æz ˈbɪzi æz ə biː
- Literally:
- Being as active as a honeybee
What does "as busy as a bee" mean?
- Very busy and active
- Working industriously
Examples
- She's been as busy as a bee preparing for the wedding.
- The children were as busy as bees decorating the classroom.
- I've been as busy as a bee at work this month.
Origin
Bees have been symbols of industriousness for centuries. Chaucer used this simile in 'The Canterbury Tales' (14th century). The phrase references how bees constantly work to gather nectar and maintain their hive.
How to use it
Common, friendly expression for being very busy. Often used positively to describe productive activity.
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- hold your horses
To wait and be patient
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "as busy as a bee" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.