It's not my circus, not my monkeys," to express that they are not responsible for the problem and that it is not their duty or responsibility to fix an issue. You can also use this phrase to avoid involving yourself in a situation. For example, suppose you see two people fighting on the street. The "not my circus, not my monkeys" saying is believed to have originated in Poland. It is believed to be a direct English translation of a popular Polish proverb that goes, "Nie moje krowy, nie moje konie." However, this Polish proverb talks about cows instead of monkeys.
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-da66a/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/16157/22617/t5731_NotMyCircus_COTT_RED_22876.1452117622.600.600__76135.1458757511.jpg?c=2&imbypass=on)
Cute Wood Sign Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys Country Marketplace
Definition of not my circus not my monkeys in the Idioms Dictionary. not my circus not my monkeys phrase. What does not my circus not my monkeys expression mean? Literal translation: Not my circus, not my monkeys There's an English idiom that carries the same meaning as this phrase, and it uses the same construction, but it's not quite as cute: "Not my job, not my problem." Basically, you could use this idiom when responding to something that is simply not your responsibility. Calque of Polish nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy . Phrase [ edit] not my circus, not my monkeys ( colloquial) It's none of my business; indicates that one is not responsible for controlling or changing a volatile or delicate situation. Not my circus, not my monkeys means it's 'none of my business'. It can also be said in cases when advice is given but not taken, and the attempt to solve the problem has failed. By saying "Not my monkeys, not my circus" you are saying kind of "I told you so". Origin What's the origin of Not my circus, not my monkeys?
![](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/alap-rgb-165810562.jpg)
Not My Circus Not My Monkeys Funny Lettering with Crazy Blind Monkey. Stock Vector
An extension of the phrase "not my circus, not my monkeys," a loan translation of the Polish idiom nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy. A: "Who was that guy who was in your office just now? Is everything all right?" B: "Not your circus, not your monkeys, OK?" Look, I appreciate your offer to help, I really do, but let me just deal with this on my own. The meaning of "Not my circus, not my monkeys" is this: One is not responsible for someone else's sticky situation. The expression does not mean that one is callus or immoral. It means that one has boundaries, boundaries that may well be healthy. Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys definition: It's
none of my business ; indicates that one is not responsible for controlling or changing a
volatile or
delicate situation. Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys The downfalls of trying to control what is not ours to control. Posted December 9, 2014 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader Source: Adrian Pena, used with permission.
![](https://i.etsystatic.com/10855338/r/il/9017b9/2466559958/il_1140xN.2466559958_iymk.jpg)
Cute Wood Sign Wooden Sign Not My Circus Not My Monkeys Etsy
Literally, " not my circus, not my monkeys ". Pronunciation [edit] IPA : /ɲɛ muj ˈt͡sɨrk ɲɛ ˈmɔ.jɛ ˈmaw.pɨ/ Rhymes: -awpɨ; Phrase [edit] nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy it's none of my business; Descendants [edit] → English: not my circus, not my monkeys (calque) Further reading [edit] When it comes to things that are not our concern, we often say, "not my circus, not my monkeys." This catchy little phrase describes something we have no control over and do not want to be bothered with.
There's a Polish proverb which millennials often use today: "Not my circus, not my monkeys.". It's a way of saying, "Don't drag me into your drama and your issues—I'm not getting involved.". My daughter used this phrase once and it captured me, because Jesus used this thinking often. The Samaritan Woman at the well in John 4. Literal Translation: Not my circus, not my monkeys. Some households can certainly feel like a three-ring circus at times. It's madness! But, that's not what this Polish expression is all about. Rather, when you tell someone that it is not your circus and they're not your monkeys, you're telling them the situation is not your problem.
![](http://rlv.zcache.com/not_my_circus_not_my_monkeys_poster-rc84903c43b174247b01ca0072c7c72a9_wvf_8byvr_512.jpg)
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys Poster Zazzle
[1] It is typically said when good advice is given, but not taken into account by others. Furthermore, it can also be applicable in regard to someone's work environment. Likewise, not my show not my monkey entails that you don't own the workplace, that you're not the boss. Context: This piece was collected during an in person conversation. Thoughts: I've heard multiple other people use this phrase in the past couple years. When I looked it up after I heard it the first time, it came up always as "Not my circus, not my monkeys" but I've only ever heard it with monkey singular. That's just an interesting.