[ti:Expressions From the World of Bugs] [ar:Faith Lapidus] [al:Words and Their Stories] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. [00:16.64]There are many American expressions about insects -- [00:21.62] like bees, for example. [00:23.90]Bees are known as very hard workers. [00:27.40]They always appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives. [00:33.38]So you might say you were as busy as a bee [00:37.86]if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. [00:41.40]In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity [00:47.82]if your whole family was helping you clean. [00:51.16]You also might say you made a beeline for something [00:57.44]if you went there right away. [00:59.72]When we go to see a movie, [01:02.96]my friend always makes a beeline [01:06.96]for the place where they sell popcorn. [01:10.14]Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, [01:16.47]but we like it anyway. [01:18.67]We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. [01:24.30]If something was the best of its kind, [01:29.14]you might say it was the bee's knees. [01:33.17]Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. [01:39.60]If fact, we do not even know if bees have knees! [01:44.63]If your friend cannot stop talking about something [01:49.42]because she thinks it is important, [01:52.15]you might say she has a bee in her bonnet. [01:56.73]If someone asks you a personal question, [02:00.81]you might say "that is none of your beeswax." [02:05.84]This means none of your business. [02:09.62]Speaking of personal questions, [02:13.30]there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, [02:19.04]"where do babies come from?" [02:21.73]Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say [02:26.95]this is talking about the birds and the bees. [02:30.84]Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. [02:37.92]It you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. [02:44.34]And if you stir up a hornet's nest, [02:48.53]you create trouble or problems. [02:52.01]Butterflies are beautiful insects, [02:57.29]but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. [03:02.31]That means to be nervous about having to do something, [03:07.55]like speaking in front of a crowd. [03:10.49]You would also not want to have ants in your pants. [03:16.16]That is, to be restless and unable to sit still. [03:21.19]Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, [03:26.76]another word for insects. [03:29.41]If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, [03:35.63]you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me." [03:40.91]A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. [03:46.34]If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear. [03:51.31]If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, [03:58.11]you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. [04:03.56]And, if you wish someone good night, you might say, [04:08.48]"sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite." [04:12.26]This VOA Special English program was written by Shelley Gollust. [04:28.10]I'm Faith Lapidus. [04:29.84]You can find more Words and Their Stories at 51voa.com [04:37.97]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com