bee (redirected from having a bee in bonnet)

*busy as a beaver (building a new dam) and *busy as a bee; *busy as a one-armed paperhanger; *busy as Grand Central Station; *busy as a cat on a hot tin roof; *busy as a fish peddler in Lent; *busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving); *busy as popcorn on a skillet

very busy. (*Also: as ~.) My boss keeps me as busy as a one-armed paperhanger. I don't have time to talk to you. I'm as busy as a beaver. When the tourist season starts, this store is busy as Grand Central Station. Sorry I can't go to lunch with you. I'm as busy as a beaver building a new dam. Prying into other folks' business kept him busy as popcorn on a skillet.

See also: beaver, busy

bee in one's bonnet

a single idea or a thought that remains in one's mind; an obsession. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) I have a bee in my bonnet over that cool new car I saw, and I can't stop thinking about it. I got a bee in my bonnet about swimming. I just wanted to go swimming all the time.

See also: bonnet

put a bee in someone's bonnet (about someone or something)

Fig. to give someone an idea about someone or something; to urge someone to do something. Julie put a bee in my bonnet about a way to solve our money problems. Sam put a bee in my bonnet about having a party for Jane. He put a bee in my bonnet about Jane. I'm glad he put a bee in my bonnet.

See also: bonnet, put

the birds and the bees

Euph. sex and reproduction. (See also .) My father tried to teach me about the birds and the bees. He's twenty years old and doesn't understand about the birds and the bees!

See also: and, bird

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be as busy as a bee  (old-fashioned) also be a busy bee (old-fashioned)

to be very busy or very active She's as busy as a bee, always going to meetings and organizing parties.

See also: busy

be the bee's knees  (British & Australian informal)

to be extremely good Have you tried this double chocolate-chip ice cream? It's the bee's knees, it really is.

See also: knee

have a bee in your bonnet

to keep talking about something again and again because you think it is important, especially something that other people do not think is important (often + about ) She's got a real bee in her bonnet about people keeping their dogs under control.

See also: bonnet, have

the birds and the bees  (humorous)

if you tell someone, especially a child, about the birds and the bees, you tell them about sex My parents never actually sat down and told me about the birds and the bees.

See also: and, bird

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have a bee in your bonnet

to talk a lot about something you think is important Martin has a bee in his bonnet about recycling.

See also: bonnet, have