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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

busy as a bee en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈbɪziæzəˈbiː/ (US)

Etymology

Compare Middle English bisy as bees.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, not-comparable, qualifier:simile) Very active; working constantly.
    • Heidi ran backwards and forwards as busy as a bee and brought out everything she could find in the cupboard, for she did not know how to be pleased enough that she could help to entertain the doctor. 1872 — Johanna Spyri, Heidi, ch. 16 (translated)
    • There was his father bending over his papers at his writing-table before the window, busy as a bee no doubt at some new enthusiasm which was destined to infuriate his neighbours. 1914, A. E. W. Mason, chapter XVIII, in The Witness for the Defence:
    • Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner! 1811, Jane Austen, chapter 26, in Sense and Sensibility:

Relateds

busy bee

Synonyms

busy as a one-armed paperhanger · busy as a dyke in a hardware store · busy as a beaver

Translations (10)

sh marljiv kao pčelica (working constantly) · bg работлив като пчела (working constantly) · cs pilný jako včelka (working constantly) · de emsig wie eine Biene (working constantly) · fi häärätä (working constantly) · sv flitig som en myra (working constantly) · sv flitig som ett bi (working constantly) · cs pilný jako mravenec (working constantly) · pl pracowity jak mrówka (working constantly) · fi hyöriä (working constantly)