Words and Their Stories: Insect Expressions

    Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

    There are many American expressions about insects -- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They always appear to be busy, moving around in their homes, or hives. So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house.
    as busy as a bee:忙得不可开交,像蜜蜂一样忙碌

    In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn.
    a beehive of activity:忙碌的蜂窝
    made a beeline: 径直

    Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee's knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!
    the bee's knees:杰出,出类拔萃

    If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet. If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of your beeswax." This means none of your business.

    a bee in her bonnet:bonnet 指的是古代外国妇女带的一种宽沿圆形大帽子,有带子可以系在脖子上,如果有蜜蜂飞进去是很难出来的。a bee in one's bonnet 指的是头脑中的固执的念头,而且往往是难以摆脱的异乎寻常的怪念头,经常说 have a bee in one's bonnet about sth 。“He has a bee in his bonnet about constructing a yacht of his own design. 他脑中一直有个想法,要自己设计构造一艘游艇。

    that is none of your beeswax:不关你的事

    Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, "where do babies come from?" Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about the birds and the bees.

    the birds and the bees:(对孩子解释的)有关两性关系的基本常识,初步的性教育

    Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. If you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. And if you stir up a hornet's nest, you create trouble or problems.

    mad as a hornet:像黄蜂样愤怒(意指非常生气、愤怒)

    Stir up a hornet's nest相当于中文的俗话: 捅了马蜂窝。惹了麻烦

    Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your pants. That is, to be restless and unable to sit still.

    have butterflies in one's stomach,从字面上来解释就是,一个人的胃里有蝴蝶.可是,这个说法的真正意思是一种持续不断的恐惧、紧张或忧虑的心情,和中文里说的“心里感到七上八下”很相似.

    Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, another word for insects. If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me." A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear.

    stop bugging me:别烦我

    put a bug in one’s ear 事先给某人暗示,提醒

    If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. And if you wish someone good night, you might say, "sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite."

    as snug as a bug in a rug 非常舒适地, 极其安逸地

    sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite."
    tight作副词表“紧紧地”,bug指“小虫”,“Sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.”面指“睡得紧紧地,别被床上的虫子咬到。”由于古时候床铺是用绳子(rope)搭成,须把绳子绑紧才能睡得安稳,因此sleep tight指“睡得香甜”。tight也有“安稳地(soundly)”、“酣然地”之意,故 sleep tight即指“睡得好”。从前的确有小虫子会趁人在睡觉时爬到床上去咬人,吸人血,因此这说法即“祝人一夜好眠”,不会被小虫咬之意。