parrot fashion

parrot-fashion

By rote, without knowing or understanding the actual substance of it. You will also be tested on how to apply these rules to real-world scenarios, so don't just learn to recite them parrot-fashion.

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parrot fashion

BRITISH

If a child learns something parrot fashion, they learn it by repeating it many times, but they do not really understand what it means. Under the old system pupils often had to repeat lessons parrot fashion. There are no books, pens or chairs here, just a blackboard and a dirt floor where 150 dusty children sit in rows, learning their words parrot fashion. Note: Some parrots are able to imitate human speech, and repeat words and phrases, although they do not really understand what they are saying.

See also: fashion, parrot

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

(learn, repeat, etc. something) ˈparrot-fashion

(British English, disapproving) (learn, repeat, etc. something) without understanding the meaning: When we were at school we used to learn history parrot-fashion; all I can remember now is the dates.

This idiom refer to the fact that parrots can learn phrases and repeat them after you without understanding what they mean.

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017