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There are many American expressions about insects-like bees, for example. Bees always appear
to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives. In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of
activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for
something if you went there right away.
Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think
it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the
bee's knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not
even know if bees have knees!
If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say
she has a bee in her bonnet. If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of
your beeswax". This means none of your business.
Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression people sometimes use when their children
ask, "where do babies come from?" Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about
the birds and the bees.
Hornets are beelike insects that sometimes attack people. If you are really angry, you might say you
are mad as a hornet.
Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That
means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also
not want to have ants in your pants. That is, to be restless and unable to sit still.
1. When Tom spends his weekend cleaning his house, we can say he is as busy as ________.
A. an insect
B. a hornet
C. a butterfly
D. a bee
2. Which of the following expressions can NOT be often heard in daily life?
A. Make a beeline.
B. That is none of your beeswax.
C. It's the bee's knees.
D. My house is a beehive of activity.
3. When you say to Mary "you have a bee in your bonnet", what do you really mean?
A. She should stop talking about something.
B. You care about her very much.
C. She is in danger and needs help.
D. What she talks about is really important.
4. Which of the following would be discussed next?
A. Some expressions about pigs.
B. Some expressions about noses.
C. Some expressions about bugs.
D. Some expressions about colours.
