three wise monkeys

USAGE SUMMARY

"three wise monkeys" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil. For example, "Jane is a real three wise monkeys - she never notices when someone is saying bad things about her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Brown, Mandelson and Harman – it's like the three wise monkeys.

The Guardian

Cut to the three wise monkeys on the mantelpiece.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The explanation may be that British civil servants are like the three wise monkeys.

The Guardian

The cover photograph features him in a scrum with the three wise monkeys.

Independent

"Do they remind you of the three wise monkeys, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil?" Spens asked.

The Guardian

He suggested that "an unkind person might remark that the policemen … had appeared to take as their role model the legendary Three Wise Monkeys".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Kumar wears designer denim and drives a gray Tesla with his new company's name on the license plate: Trimian, short for three simians, a nod to the wise monkeys of Japanese legend.

The New Yorker

Three wise men are coming.

Huffington Post

Three Wise is thug life  - @TheThreeWise.

Vice

Three wise men are heading to Silicon Valley.

Huffington Post

He confides his deepest thoughts about life and women to Clyde, and Clyde is just the wise monkey — silent.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "three wise monkeys" when you want to describe a situation where people are deliberately ignoring wrongdoing or avoiding unpleasant truths. It's particularly effective in contexts where collective responsibility is being evaded.

Common error

Don't use "three wise monkeys" to simply mean someone is unaware. The phrase implies a deliberate choice to ignore something, often to avoid conflict or responsibility. Simple ignorance should be described using terms like "unaware" or "oblivious".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three wise monkeys" functions as an idiomatic expression. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to describe a situation where individuals or groups choose to ignore immoral/illegal actions. Examples show its usage in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "three wise monkeys" is a commonly used idiomatic phrase that describes a situation where people deliberately ignore wrongdoing or avoid confronting difficult issues. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely understood. While versatile enough for news, media, and general contexts, it's best to avoid it in more formal academic or business writing, opting instead for phrases like "willful ignorance". The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, with Science and Wiki as secondary sources. When using this phrase, ensure that you are conveying a deliberate choice to ignore, rather than simple ignorance or unawareness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

Expresses the proverb that represents the concept of the "three wise monkeys" more literally.

willful ignorance

Highlights the deliberate act of ignoring something, often to avoid facing unpleasant truths.

turning a blind eye

Focuses on the act of intentionally ignoring wrongdoing or a problem.

burying your head in the sand

Implies avoiding a problem by pretending it doesn't exist.

ignoring the elephant in the room

Refers to deliberately avoiding a significant issue that is obvious to everyone.

playing dumb

Suggests feigning ignorance to avoid responsibility or involvement.

looking the other way

Similar to turning a blind eye but can also suggest a more passive form of avoidance.

being in denial

Indicates a psychological state where someone refuses to accept reality.

remaining oblivious

Suggests a lack of awareness or concern, whether intentional or not.

pretending not to notice

Focuses on the outward behavior of intentionally ignoring something.

FAQs

How can I use "three wise monkeys" in a sentence?

You can use "three wise monkeys" to describe a situation where people are choosing to ignore something they know is wrong. For example, "The board acted like the "three wise monkeys" when presented with evidence of financial mismanagement."

What does the idiom "three wise monkeys" mean?

The idiom "three wise monkeys" refers to the proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil", representing a situation where people deliberately ignore wrongdoing or avoid confronting difficult issues.

What can I say instead of "three wise monkeys"?

Alternatives to "three wise monkeys" include "turning a blind eye", "willful ignorance", or "ignoring the elephant in the room", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "three wise monkeys" in formal writing?

While the idiom "three wise monkeys" is widely understood, it might be more appropriate to use a more formal alternative, such as "willful ignorance" or "deliberately overlooking", in formal or academic writing.