naked ape
- noun
- /ˈneɪkɪd eɪp/
:
simio desnudo
- My father and I sat across from each other, proudly waggling our thumbs, proud to be naked ape primates.
Examples
-
Humans, often referred to as naked apes, share many primal behaviors with their animal ancestors.
-
"The naked ape is man."
Fiction book (1999) -
The next day, which was a Saturday, I asked my father over a bowl of cereal what a "naked ape" was.
Fiction book (1999) -
Now, even though we are naked apes, we still have these same special heat radiator blood vessels where our primate ancestors who had fur had them.
-
In studying evolution, scientists have labeled humans as naked apes to emphasize their biological roots.
-
The documentary explores the idea that understanding ourselves as naked apes can help us reconnect with nature.
Synonyms
3
3.2
The scientific name for the modern human group, different from extinct species like Neanderthals
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'naked' (bare) and 'ape' (a primate), so a learner can infer the image of a hairless primate; this gives a clear clue to the metaphor. However, using that image to refer specifically to humans and to highlight evolutionary/primal behavior is a metaphorical extension requiring cultural or biological background, so the full intended meaning is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Naked ape was made famous by a scientist and writer who wanted to show humans as just another animal without fur. The clear image of an ape that is naked helps people think of humans' 'animal nature' and 'basic instincts', so the phrase is used when we talk about human behaviour in a raw, natural way.