Bees are a fascinating and essential part of our natural world. They play a critical role in pollinating plants and crops, which is crucial for food production and the environment.
As a result, bees have become a symbol of hard work, productivity, and community in many cultures, inspiring a range of idiomatic expressions.
These bee idioms offer a unique and creative way of expressing a variety of human experiences and emotions, from the importance of teamwork to the power of determination.
In this post, we will explore some of the most interesting and widely used bee idioms, examining their meanings and origins, and discovering the valuable insights they offer.
14 Bee Idioms & Phrases (Meaning & Phrases)
1. To Put The Bee On Someone
- Meaning: to ask someone for money
- Example in a sentence: Every once in a while he comes around and puts the bee on us for more money.
2. Queen Bee
- Meaning: a woman who has a certain amount of authority in a group of people
- Example in a sentence: You will need to get permission from the queen bee before we can move forward with that idea.
3. To Make A Bee Line
- Meaning: to move quickly to your desired location; usually when you need to go to the bathroom.
- Example in a sentence: Once we entered the front door, Tom made a beeline to the bathroom.
4. Honey-Mouthed
- Meaning: to be persuasive or smooth with words.
- Example in a sentence: He is both handsome and honey-mouthed, no wonder the ladies love him.
5. Be Busy As A Bee
- Meaning: to be really busy
- Example in a sentence: I have been trying to talk to Steve but he looks busy as a bee.
6. Honey Trap
- Meaning: using an attractive person to get someone to reveal confidential information.
- Example in a sentence: He fell for the honey trap and told her where he keeps his money safe.
7. A Bee In One’s Bonnet
- Meaning: to have an obsession with something; to be preoccupied
- Example in a sentence: The readers of this blog know that I have a bee in my bonnet about helping people improve their English.
8. Bee’s Knees
- Meaning: Something that is impressive, or desirable; high-quality.
- Example in a sentence: The latest iPhone is the bee’s knees, I want to buy one soon.
9. As Sweet As Honey
- Meaning: To be very sweet or charming.
- Example in a sentence: His words were as sweet as honey it almost made her cry.
10. Buzz Along
- Meaning: to drive very quickly.
- Example in a sentence: It was difficult to cross the street with all the cars buzzing along.
11. The Birds And The Bees
- Meaning: teaching young children lessons about sex.
- Example in a sentence: I don’t look forward to having the birds and bees talk with my kids.
12. To Give Someone A Buzz
- Meaning: to call someone on the telephone.
- Example in a sentence: Why don’t you give your friends a buzz and see what they have planned for the weekend?
13. Make Like A Bee And Buzz Off
- Meaning: to leave or depart from something.
- Example in a sentence: You are really starting to annoy me. Why don’t you make like a bee and buzz off?
14. Float Like A Butterfly Sting Like A Bee
- Meaning: used to describe someone who generally kind, but when needed they can make cutting remarks to defend oneself or those they love.
- Example in a sentence: In order to run a successful business you need to be able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
In conclusion, bee idioms provide us with a fascinating glimpse into how bees and their behavior have influenced and inspired human language and culture.
From their tireless work ethic to their strong sense of community, bees have become a powerful symbol of many admirable human qualities, such as hard work, cooperation, and dedication.
These bee idioms offer a creative and inspiring way of expressing these virtues, reminding us of the importance of working together and striving towards a common goal.
By understanding and appreciating these bee idioms, we not only gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world and its inhabitants but also gain a valuable tool for expressing ourselves and connecting with others in a more meaningful way.
