jumping bean
C1/C2Informal, Specialised (Biology/Zoology)
Definition
Meaning
A seed of certain Mexican shrubs, containing the larva of a small moth whose movements cause the seed to jerk or 'jump'.
Informally, it can describe a person or thing that is very restless or energetic, moving unpredictably.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is primarily a concrete noun referring to a specific natural phenomenon. Its use as a metaphor for a restless person is playful and informal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The metaphorical use is slightly more common in AmE informal speech.
Connotations
Slightly humorous or quaint in both varieties. In its literal sense, it often evokes childhood curiosity or science education.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but the term is known due to its unique nature. Likely encountered in nature documentaries, educational contexts, or as a novelty item.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adjective] jumping bean [verb of movement]He/she is like a [adjective] jumping beanVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] like a jumping bean”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biology/entomology contexts to describe the seed and its symbiotic/parasitic relationship with the moth larva (Cydia saltitans).
Everyday
Used to describe the novelty item or as a metaphor for a child who can't sit still.
Technical
A seed of shrubs in the genus Sebastiania (Euphorbiaceae), infested by the larva of the moth Cydia saltitans.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bean seemed to jump of its own accord.
American English
- It started jumping around on the table.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Look! The bean is moving!
- My little brother is like a jumping bean; he never sits still.
- The science museum had an exhibit explaining the biology behind the Mexican jumping bean.
- The apparent autonomous movement of the jumping bean is a classic example of an external agent—the larva within—being mistaken for the seed's own volition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BEAN that can't stop JUMPING because a tiny bug is doing gymnastics inside it.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESTLESSNESS IS UNCONTROLLED MOTION / A PERSON IS A MOVING OBJECT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'прыгающий боб'. The established Russian term is 'прыгающие бобы' or 'мексиканские прыгающие бобы'. The metaphor is understood but not a common idiom in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it as 'jumping-bean' (hyphenated form is less standard).
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'jelly bean'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of a jumping bean's movement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The seed itself is not 'alive' in the sense of being a plant, but it contains a live moth larva whose movements cause the jumping.
No, they are not edible and are mildly toxic due to the compounds in the seed.
They move intermittently for several weeks until the larva pupates and eventually emerges as a moth.
It's a recognizable but not extremely common metaphor, typically used in a light-hearted way to describe a fidgety person, especially a child.