Top Pages
Home
A-Z Glossary
Punctuation
A-Z Confused Words
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
(ordered by seriousness) Top Tip
Get a grammar checker
for your browser ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists Tests and Games Awkward Plurals Sayings and Proverbs Twitter YouTube
The Bee's knees (Origin)
by Craig ShrivesWhat Is the Origin of the Saying "The Bee's knees"?
The term the bee's knees means excellent.The bee's knees is thought to refer to the concentration of pollen around a bee's knee.
A Competing Theory
The term it's the business is commonly used in England, particularly around London. The term the business means exactly what it's supposed to be (i.e. excellent). Bee's knees is possibly a corruption of business.Previous and Next Sayings
Test Your Knowledge of English Proverbs and Idioms
Ready for the Test?
More Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Next lesson >