Etymology

monkey-branch

Today it means: To attempt to improve one's status (at work, or in personal relationships, etc.) by repeatedly choosing the best option and then moving to better options as they become available. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

By analogy with a monkey climbing trees by swinging from branch to branch.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.