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Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. |
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There are many American expressions about insects -- like bees, for example. |
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Bees are known as very hard workers. |
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They always appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives. |
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So you might say you were "as busy as a bee" if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. |
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In fact, you might say your house was "a beehive of activity" if your whole family was helping you clean. |
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Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. |
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We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. |
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If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee's knees. |
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Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. |
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In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees! |
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If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, |
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you might say she has a bee in her bonnet. |
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If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of your beeswax." |
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This means none of your business. |
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Speaking of personal questions, |
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there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, |
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"where do babies come from?" |
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Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about the birds and the bees. |
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Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. |
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If you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. |
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And if you stir up a hornet's nest, you create trouble or problems. |
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Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. |
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That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. |
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You would also not want to have ants in your pants. |
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That is, to be restless and unable to sit still. |
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Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, another word for insects. |
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If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, |
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you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me." |
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A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. |
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If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear. |
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If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, |
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you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. |
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And if you wish someone good night, you might say, "sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite." |
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