Twenty Idioms about Insects

a hive of activity – a place/situation where everyone is busy
a flea in (someone’s) ear – an unwelcome idea or answer
ants in your pants/antsy – agitated or restless due to nervousness or excitement
as busy as a bee – very busy
as gaudy as a butterfly – very gaudy
as mad as a hornet – very angry
as snug as a bug (in a rug) – very comfortable/cosy
bee’s knees – an excellent person or thing, of the highest quality
birds and the bees – a euphemism for the basic facts about reproduction as told to a child
bug-eyed – with bulging eyes
dropping like flies – dying or collapsing in large numbers, giving up on or pulling out of an endeavour
fly in the ointment – a small problem which nonetheless spoils the whole plan
fly on the wall – an unnoticed witness
none of your beeswax – none of your business
to bug someone – to annoy someone
to have a bee in one’s bonnet – to be preoccupied/obsessed with something
to have butterflies in one’s stomach – to feel nervous/anxious/excited in your stomach
to make a beeline – to move swiftly and directly towards something or someone
to put a bug in someone’s ear about something – to give someone a hint about something
wouldn’t hurt a flea – wouldn’t hurt anyone or anything

If you enjoyed this post, why not check out our other articles about idioms?

04 Jun 2018
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