English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Attested since 1922, of unclear origin.[1] There are several suggested origins, but it most likely arose in imitation of the numerous animal-related nonsense phrases popular in the 1920s such as the cat's pyjamas, cat's whiskers, cat's meow, gnat's elbow, monkey's eyebrows etc.[2][3][4]

A popular folk etymology has the phrase referring to the world champion dancer Bee Jackson.[5] Another suggestion is that the phrase is a corruption of business[4][6] but this may be a back-formation. The singular bee's knee is attested from the late 18th century meaning something small or insignificant in the phrase big as a bee's knee. Also as weak as a bee's knee is attested in Ireland (1870). It is possible that the bee's knees is a deliberate inversion of this meaning but is not attested.[6]

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Audio (AU)

Noun [ edit ]

the bee's knees pl (plural only)

Translations [ edit ]

Further reading [ edit ]