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Learn English Idioms Bee

Learn English idioms with the teacher from BBC Learning English services. In this lesson, we are going to learn English idioms related to bees (as part of animal idioms).

In this episode, The Teacher introduces you to three idiomatic phrases connected with bees.

1. Busy as a bee
2. The bee’s knees
3. To have a bee in your bonnet

English Script of the video:

Hello, I’m a very interesting and intelligent man. And today these bees and I are getting together to teach you a thing or two about English idioms. I bet you’ve never been taught by a bee before! Look at them all working away: busy, buzzy bees.

In English, if someone is very busy or is moving around quickly doing lots of things we can say they’re busy as a bee.
Busy as a bee. Buzz.

Now, what else do we know about bees? Hmm, my favourite – runny honey. I love honey. In fact, I think it’s the bee’s knees! Now I know what you’re thinking “What are you talking about you silly man? The bee’s knees?”

In English, if we think that something is excellent, or of the very highest quality, we can say it’s the bee’s knees. The bee’s knees. Like my lessons – they’re the bee’s knees. Now, they may make yummy, runny honey, but never forget that bees have a nasty side. They sting.

So you wouldn’t want one to fly up here into your hat – or bonnet as we call this old fashioned ladies’ hat. So, how would you feel if you had a bee in your bonnet? Extremely worried.

In English, if someone is very worried or concerned about something and they talk about it all the time, we can say they’ve got a bee in their bonnet. To have a bee in your bonnet.

Money Idioms

BBC Learning English. The Teacher Monkey idioms

In this lesson, The Teacher introduces you to three idiomatic phrases connected with monkeys.
1. To monkey around
2. Monkey business
3. To make a monkey out of someone

Hello, I’m a very interesting and intelligent man.
And today these baboons and I will be monkeying around to teach you a thing or two about English.
I bet you’ve never been taught by a monkey before.
We’ll be monkeying around.
Hmm, to monkey around… What do you think that could mean?
In English, ‘to monkey around’ means to behave in a silly or careless way. Pen!
To monkey around.
Like him. And me.
Anyway, down to some serious business. The English language.
What a wonderful thing… The language of Shakespeare, the language of…
Please stop talking, I’m trying to teach.
Where was I? … English, the language of …
Are you eating now?! Enough of this monkey business!
That’s right. In English, we can call bad or dishonest behaviour ‘monkey business’.

Monkey business.
Hello it’s me, the Teacher! I bet you didn’t recognise me for a minute.
What’s the matter? What do you mean I’m not taking this seriously?
I know you’re a hard-working student of English. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to make a monkey out of you.
In English, if we’re trying to make someone look stupid we can say we’re making a monkey out of them.

To make a monkey out of someone.
The only person round here I’m making a monkey out of is me.

STEP UP TO THE PLATE

Rock the boat

Rock the boat: Go against the rules of a group.
Let's imagine that you are cruising smoothly on a boat, but suddenly the boat is rocked or shaken by something, you will probably feel uncomfortable or upset. This phrase also means to upset people who accept the existing condition.

Example: Don't rock the boat if you want to be liked by many people in this small and conservative village