Learn English idioms with the teacher from BBC Learning English services. In this lesson, we are going to learn English idioms related to bees (as part of animal idioms).
Key points
- busy as a bee – very busy and active
- the bee’s knees – excellent, the best (informal, British)
- have a bee in your bonnet – keep thinking or talking about one thing
In this episode, The Teacher introduces you to three idiomatic phrases connected with bees.
1. Busy as a bee
2. The bee’s knees
3. To have a bee in your bonnet
Meanings and examples
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| busy as a bee | very busy and active | Mum is busy as a bee before the holidays. |
| the bee’s knees | excellent, the best (informal) | This new café is the bee’s knees. |
| have a bee in your bonnet | keep thinking or talking about one thing | He has a bee in his bonnet about healthy eating. |
In the video, the BBC Learning English “Teacher” acts out each idiom in a funny scene – watch it to hear the pronunciation and see the idioms used in context.
Frequently asked questions
Is “the bee’s knees” common today?
It sounds a little old-fashioned and playful, but people still use it in British English.
What does “a bee in your bonnet” mean?
You are obsessed with an idea and keep talking about it: “He has a bee in his bonnet about recycling.”
Learn English Idioms video lessons:
