The term ‘the bees knees’ is one you might hear frequently in English conversations. It can sound a little funny if you are not sure what it means. It is not a saying which is talking about the joints of an insect, but what does it mean and where did it come from?
Bees Knees
Bees Knees Meaning
‘The bees knees’ is used to refer to something or someone that is particularly special or amazing. It is used to describe something that is the best of the best.
Origin of this idiom
The term was originally used in the 1920s and is believed to have come from the word ‘business.’ When someone would say that something was ‘the business’ they would be saying that it was excellent. This term then evolved into the bees knees which kept the same meaning.
“Bees Knees” Examples
Example Sentences
Times where you might use the term ‘the bees knees’ would be to describe, for example, a party you attended:
- ‘That party last night was so good, it was the bees knees.’
You might also use it to describe a person you think particularly highly of, for example, you might say:
- ‘My mother is so kind and giving, she really is the bees knees.’
Conversation Examples
When using the saying the bees knees in a conversation, it might sound a bit like one of these examples.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “I am looking at buying a new computer.”
- Person 2: “You should try the new Apple one, it’s the bees knees.”
Conversation 2:
- Person 1: “I am so happy to have met my new friend, Charlotte.”
- Person 2: “Why is that?”
- Person 1: “She is so funny and we have a great time together. But she is also caring and would do anything for anyone.”
- Person 2: “It sounds like she’s the bees knees.”
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are plenty of other ways to express how brilliant something is, some of these could include sayings such as;
- The cats whiskers
- The crème de la crème
- Best of a group of people
- Champion
- Cream of the crop
- Top of the range
What Does “Bees Knees” Mean? | Picture
Last Updated on March 21, 2021