Of American-English origin, the colloquial phrase monkey see, monkey do is used to comment contemptuously on an instance of unthinking imitation, or of learning or performing by rote.
This phrase occurs, for example, in the following from Brevard Zoo becomes oasis for saving, studying spider monkeys, by Jim Waymer, published in Florida Today (Cocoa, Florida, USA) of Sunday 30th June 2024 [page 10A, column 1]:
Like us, spider monkey traits succeed or fail as a function of which “selfish” genes nature rewards most, evolutionary biologists say. At Brevard Zoo, a caged monkey lab is a case of “monkey see, monkey do,” then scientists see and learn from what monkeys do.
The earliest occurrences of the phrase monkey see, monkey do that I have found are as follows, in chronological order—the first three were used by Californian retailers:
1-: From the following advertisement, published in the Santa Cruz Surf (Santa Cruz, California, USA) of Tuesday 26th November 1889 [Vol. 12, No. 126, page 3, column 5]:
Why People Should Trade at The People’s Store.
The People’s Store sells goods right from the jump for less money than any other store in the town.
The People’s Store don’t wait until some one else has a reduction sale, or a new store comes along and advertises to sell goods cheap and then copy and try to follow suit. Oh no! No “monkey see, monkey do,” business about The People’s Store. They are the only, the real live all-wool and yard-wide strictly one price, strictly low price and strictly cash store in Santa Cruz.
2-: From the following letter, published in the Oakland Enquirer (Oakland, California, USA) of Saturday 15th August 1891 [Vol. XVIV [?], No. 183, page 2, column 2]:
Oakland Merchants Not in It.
Editor Enquirer: Nothing original. “Monkey see, monkey do,” is the ridiculous conclusion one would certainly draw on the Tribune’s fake of premiums. Only a short time ago the Examiner had it; now Tribune copy it; linking the Monarch with them on the proposition. Say, Enquirer, what’s the matter with legitimate business, or is it so dull that it is like certain storekeepers’ three-years’ fire? something to raise money with. I notice on the whole scheme that Oakland merchants are not it. Every article (supposed) to be given away is purchased in San Francisco. What kind of an Oakland paper do you call that? I should think Oaklanders would give the scheme a wide berth. I will.
Oakland Merchant.
August 12, 1891.
3-: From the following advertisement, published in the San Luis Obispo Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California, USA) of Wednesday 13th June 1894 [Vol. 15, No. 19, page 4, column 3]:
We lead, let the Immigrants from Jerusalem follow.
“MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO!”
OUR – FORCED – SALE
OF
Fine Millinery Goods at Cost.Is a great success. We are willing and anxious to sell you new, seasonable goods at cost. We have the goods and styles you want, and will not try to sell you black for white.
Do you want new style sailor hats? We have them in white at 25c, 50c and $1.00. Colors also.
Fine trimmed hats at $1.50, $1.75, $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00, displayed daily and changed daily in our windows. Compare what we offer with our would be competitors’ painful efforts.
PIERSON & REGAN.
4-: From the column Editorial Clippings, published in The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) of Sunday 24th November 1895 [Vol. 133, No. 147, page 6, column 4]:
A Case of Monkey See—Monkey Do.
And now it is alleged that the late Queen of Korea was cremated a la Texas.—Washington Post.
5-: From The Sea Coast Echo (Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, USA) of Saturday 9th May 1896 [Vol. 5, No. 17, page 1, column 4]:
The sound money democrats are true to their party, and like the principles of their party will bow to the action of the convention. But nothing from our free silver friends has been heard of on the subject, and neither is it expected until the sound of the bolt. The southern god of the white metal, that blatant free silver demagogue, Senator Tillmann, will undoubtedly make the break, and, like “monkey see, monkey do,” Mississippians of his kind will follow.
word histories 
Thanks for tracking this down, Pascal. I’m struck by the coincidence of those first three examples all running in a straight line along about 200 miles of the California ‘s Pacific coast. And they certainly make it sound like monkey see, monkey do was already commonplace by then. I’m tickled to see that one of the examples is a dig at the Oakland Tribune’s copying another newspaper’s “fake premiums.” I delivered the Oakland Tribune for six years when I was a newspaper carrier as a boy.
There’s also an interesting reference to “certain storekeepers’ three-years’ fire” there. In V. S. Naipaul’s novel A House for Mr. Biswas there’s a brief episode describing a well-known business tactic in Trinidad, a frequent way of dealing with failing enterprises. It’s “insureandburn,” all one word. Glenn
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Very interesting remarks, thank you!
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