the bee's knees
Meaning: Something or someone excellent.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She thinks her new bike is the bee's knees.”
Category: Animals
Origin: American slang from the 1920s, one of many nonsense animal phrases of the time, like "the cat's pajamas." Earlier it meant something tiny.
Equivalents in other languages
- Polish: cud miód — literally: wonder honey
- French: Pas piqué des vers — literally: Not worm-eaten
More idioms — Animals
- at a snail's pace — Very slowly.
- the lean years — A period of hardship and scarcity.
- worship the golden calf — To value money and wealth above everything.
- ants in one's pants — Restless, unable to sit still.
- blistering barnacles — A comic exclamation of surprise or anger.
- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush — It is better to keep what you have than risk it for something more uncertain.
More English idioms
- throw someone under the bus — To betray or blame someone to save oneself.
- take stock — To review a situation carefully before deciding what to do.
- with pomp and circumstance — With great ceremony and display.
- reinvent the wheel — To waste effort creating something that already exists.
- protect one's turf — To defend one's area of control or responsibility against others.
- chase rainbows — To pursue something unrealistic.