full of beans
1. Nonsensical. His explanation is totally full of beans and doesn't answer the question at all. Don't give me that excuse, it's full of beans. Dave said he's smooth with the ladies? Ha, there's a notion that's full of beans.
2. Very active and energetic. Whenever my daughter is full of beans like this, I have her go run around in our back yard for a few hours. I can never keep up with Haley—she's always full of beans, even without a morning coffee! After a good night's sleep, I was full of beans when I woke up.
full of prunes
Nonsensical. From the idea that prunes cause gas (and being "full of hot air" is synonymous with "nonsensical"). His explanation is totally full of prunes and doesn't answer the question at all. Oh, you can't believe a word that guy says—he's full of prunes. Not one bit of snow at all—those meteorologists are full of prunes.
prune (something) of (something else)
To make something more trim, clean, or neat by pruning away that which is superfluous, undesirable, or unnecessary. I want to prune the tree outside of its dead and overgrown branches. As your career evolves, you'll need to start pruning your résumé of less relevant work experience.
prune away
To remove something superfluous, undesirable, or unnecessary (from something else). A noun or pronoun can be used between "prune" and "away." We need to prune away these dead branches to allow the tree to grow new ones in their place. As your career evolves, you'll need to start pruning less relevant work experience away from your résumé.
prune off
To remove something superfluous, undesirable, or unnecessary (from something else). A noun or pronoun can be used between "prune" and "off." We need to prune off these dead branches to allow the tree to grow new ones in their place. As your career evolves, you'll need to start pruning less relevant work experience off your résumé.
prunes and prisms
Intentionally formal or prudish speech or action. The phrase originated in Charles Dickens' novel Little Dorrit as an example of proper speech. When you talk to your grandmother, stick to prunes and prisms so that you don't offend her. If you want to become a proper lady, be sure to practice your prunes and prisms.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
prune something away
to cut away something unwanted or unneeded. Please prune the lower branches of the trees away. They are starting to annoy pedestrians. We pruned away the dead branches.
prune something of something
to clear, clean, or groom something of something by pruning. Sally was out in the orchard pruning the apple trees of dead branches. They pruned the roses of their unneeded branches.
prune something off (of) something
and prune something offto cut something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Claire pruned the dead branch off the apple tree. She pruned off the dead branch.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
full of beans
1. Lively, energetic, in high spirits, as in The children were full of beans today, looking forward to their field trip. This expression has no valid explanation. [c. 1840]
2. Also,
full of prunes. Acting foolish, talking nonsense, as in
One cup of coffee won't hurt you-you're full of prunes. [c. 1930] Also see
full of crap.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
full of beans
If you are full of beans, you are very happy and energetic. Jem was among them, pink-cheeked and full of beans after his long sleep. He's a likable extrovert, full of beans. Note: This originally referred to a horse that was well-fed and therefore full of energy.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
full of beans
lively; in high spirits. informal This phrase was originally used by people who work with horses, and referred to the good condition of a horse fed on beans.
prunes and prisms
used to denote a prim and affected speech, look, or manner. In Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit ( 1857 ), Mrs General advocates speaking this phrase aloud in order to give ‘a pretty form to the lips’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
full of ˈbeans
very lively, active and healthy: Ray is certainly full of beans again after his illness.This phrase was originally used to talk about horses that were fed on beans.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
full of beans
mod. full of nonsense; full of hot air. Oh, be quiet. You’re just full of beans.
full of prunes
mod. full of nonsense. (see also full of beans. Prunes can cause gas = hot air = nonsense.) You’re just silly. Completely full of prunes.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
full of beans
1. Energetic; frisky: The children were too full of beans to sit still.
2. Badly mistaken: Don't believe him; he's full of beans.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
full of beans
Lively, high-spirited. The earliest appearance of this expression is in Robert Smith Surtees’s Handley Cross (1843), a continuation of the adventures of a sporting grocer, John Jorrocks (“Ounds, ’osses and men are in a glorious state of excitement! Full o’ beans and benevolence!”). A slang dictionary of 1874 defined the term to mean arrogant and offensive concerning one’s newfound prosperity (nouveau riche snobbery) and held that it came from stable slang. It was so used for a time in the late nineteenth century, but then was superseded by the earlier (and present) meaning, which survives in the cliché.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer