As busy as a bee

Meaning

The idiom "as busy as a bee" describes someone who is very active, hardworking, and productive. They are constantly doing something and seem to never have a moment to stop or rest. This phrase is often used to express admiration for someone's work ethic or to convey that the person is very engaged in their activities.

Usage

• "I can't believe how busy she is, always attending meetings and working late into the night."
• "He's as busy as a bee, always working on new projects and ideas."
• "As busy as a bee, I can barely keep up with my daily tasks."
• "She's so productive; she's as busy as a bee."
• "I admire his work ethic; he's as busy as a bee and always seems to have a lot on his plate."

Roots and History

The origin of the phrase "as busy as a bee" dates back to the 14th century. In medieval literature, bees were often used as a metaphor for industry and productivity. The phrase was first used in print in the 19th century and has since become a common idiom used to describe someone who is very active and engaged in their work.

Synonyms in English

• "Workaholic" - A person who works extremely hard and devotes excessive time and energy to their job or other tasks.
• "Overachiever" - A person who excels in their work or accomplishes more than is expected of them.
• "Productive" - Producing a lot of useful or valuable work, especially in a short period of time.

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Como un abejito", which means "like a little bee".
• French: "Travailleur industriel", which means "industrial worker" (this phrase is not commonly used as an idiom).
• German: "Betrieblich", which means "efficient".
• Italian: "Como un api", which means "like a bee".
• Japanese: "働き強い", which means "strong worker" (this phrase is not commonly used as an idiom).

Similar Idioms

• aid and abet

• by all means

• where the rubber meets the road