monkey

[nicolaelliso]

where does the phrase ' slowly slowly catch a monkey' come from?

[Quizmonster]

It's usually written as 'softly, softly catchee monkey' as if being someone, perhaps Chinese, is speaking pidgin English. It first appeared in print in a book of quotations published in 1907. It is just a proverbial phrase recommending caution and the gentle approach as the best way to achieve an objective.