bee's knees: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (now largely historical/humorous/ironic)Informal, colloquial, humorous, ironic, dated
Quick answer
What does “bee's knees” mean?
An excellent or outstanding person or thing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An excellent or outstanding person or thing; the height of perfection or desirability.
Often used to express great admiration or approval for something fashionable, excellent, or the best of its kind. Historically, it can refer to a trendy or fashionable person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Originated in US slang but became common in UK English. Contemporary usage in both regions is similar: largely historical/ironic.
Connotations
In both: strong connotations of the 1920s Jazz Age/flapper culture. Modern use is typically humorous, self-aware, or affectionate.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in serious modern conversation in both. More likely to appear in period fiction, nostalgic commentary, or playful speech.
Grammar
How to Use “bee's knees” in a Sentence
to be the bee's kneesto think [something] is the bee's kneesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bee's knees” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- That new café in Soho is absolutely the bee's knees, darling.
American English
- My grandpa still says his 1965 Mustang is the bee's knees.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. If used, it would be highly informal and humorous among colleagues.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in historical or linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Rare, used playfully or ironically among friends/family, often to sound quaint.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bee's knees”
- Using it in formal contexts. Misusing it to describe something average. Writing it as 'bees knees' (missing apostrophe).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is entirely idiomatic. It is a slang term from the 1920s meaning 'the best' or 'excellent'.
No, it is considered dated. Modern use is almost always humorous, ironic, or nostalgic.
'The cat's pyjamas', 'the cat's whiskers', and 'the elephant's adenoids' are similar 1920s slang terms for something excellent.
No, it is strictly informal and would be inappropriate in formal contexts like academic or business reports.
An excellent or outstanding person or thing.
Bee's knees: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːz niːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiz niz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the bee's knees”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very fancy, stylish bee wearing tiny knee pads – it thinks it's the height of insect fashion and excellence, hence 'the bee's knees'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS BEING A SMALL BUT PERFECT BODY PART (a part perceived as small but essential or nimble).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would using 'the bee's knees' be MOST appropriate?