The latest internet craze.
Taking from "the new
black," (a phrase originally meaning "the latest, hottest trend in fashion"), the new monkey works on the idea that for several years now monkeys have pervaded every
corner of the internet--as mascot, icon, part of a slogan, or in some other aspect.
"The new monkey," therefore, would be the next big thing.
Usage note: "The new monkey" refers to things that are in some way parallel to monkeys. Thus, bananaphones could be "the new monkey," but the bananaphone
flash movie could not.
For this reason (lack of a parallel), All Your Base is not the new monkey. Neither are monkeys the new AYB. (I suppose it could be argued that the Banaphone
flash movie is the new AYB, but we all know that'
s simply not the
case.)
Pete:
Wow, would you look at this site? Looks like ninjas are the
new monkey.
Erik: What? No way, dude. Pirates are the new monkey.