ESL Speaking

Games + Activities to Try Out Today!

  • Adult Activities
  • Kid Activities
  • Textbooks
    • ESL Textbooks for Adults
    • ESL Textbooks for Children
  • Teacher Resources
    • Resources
    • Online TEFL Course
  • Learn English
    • Learn English
    • Confusing English Words

in Learn English

Bee in Your Bonnet Meaning, Origin & Examples

Some things just don’t get out of our heads, don’t they? There will be times when you get so obsessed about something, you can’t stop thinking or talking about it. If this happens, you can say that you have a bee in your bonnet. Have you ever heard of this expression? It is a commonly used English idiom that is great to know if you want to improve your vocabulary and conversation skills. Continue reading to learn the meaning and origin of ‘been in your bonnet.’

bee in one's bonnet meaning origin examples

Bee in One’s Bonnet Meaning, Origin, Examples

Bee in Your Bonnet

Think about a time when you were so annoyed by something and kept thinking about it. Maybe it was a fear of an upcoming exam or something mean that your friend said about you. These thoughts and feelings buzz non-stop in our minds and distract us. How annoying!

What is a bonnet?

In the 1500s, ‘bonnet‘ was the word for ‘cap’ or ‘hat’ for people in England and Scotland. It didn’t necessarily refer to a single style of hat.

Bee in Your Bonnet Meaning

Bee in your bonnet means when someone extensively talks about something or focuses on something too much. The ‘something’ can be a thought or a feeling (or both)!

If a bee is in your bonnet (hat), there is a chance of it stinging you. So, it would be hard to ignore the fact that the bee is in your hat. However, there are some people who are good at not caring about the annoying bee, whereas there are also people who can’t stop thinking about the bee. Which kind of person are you?

Other forms of bee in your bonnet

You can say:

  • a bee in her bonnet
  • a bee in his bonnet
  • a bee in my bonnet
  • a bee in your bonnet
bee in your bonnet: learn english idiom

Bee in Your Bonnet: Learn English Idiom

Origin of Bee in Your Bonnet

The English idiom ‘bee in your bonnet’ is likely to have come from the earlier Scottish idiom ‘a head full of bees.’ This expression was first seen in the 1500s in Scotland and England. To have a head full of bees means that you can’t think straight or clearly. Over time, the idiom and meaning changed a little bit to the current form, ‘bee in your bonnet.’

Bee in Your Bonnet Examples

Here are some examples of bee in your bonnet in a sentence:

  • He got a bee in his bonnet about studying. He never stops talking about it.
  • That song got stuck in my head; it’s like a bee in my bonnet.
  • My mother has a bee in her bonnet about safety. She never lets me ride my bike without a helmet.
idiom of the day bee in my bonnet

Idiom of the Day: Bee in My Bonnet

Other English Idioms

If you want to improve your vocabulary, check out more idioms.

  • English Idiom: Crack the Whip
  • English Idiom: Blow Off Some Steam
  • English Idiom: A Dime a Dozen
  • English Idiom: Turn a Blind Eye
  • English Idiom: The Best of Both Worlds

FAQs About Bee in One’s Bonnet

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the idiom ‘bee in your bonnet.’

What does a bee in your bonnet mean?

Bee in your bonnet means to talk and think too much about something that you are obsessed with.

Where did the saying bee in your bonnet come from?

It comes from the Scottish idiom, ‘a head full of bees,’ which was used in Scotland and England in the 1500s. This expression means that you cannot think clearly or straight. The form and meaning changed over time, and now we use the expression ‘bee in your bonnet.’

What are the synonyms of bee in your bonnet?

Synonyms and similar phrases of bee in your bonnet:

  • obsessed with
  • infatuated with
  • focused on
  • passionate about

Bee in One’s Bonnet Meaning: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on this idiom? Have you ever heard of it before? If it is a new expression, try making your own sentence using ‘bee in your bonnet.’ This way, it will be easier to remember the new expression that you’ve learned today. If there is another idiom or English expression you want to learn, let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 20 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults, Great Debates for ESL/EFL, and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at:
YouTube
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram

« Crack the Whip Meaning, Origin, and Examples
71 Ways to Practice Speaking English | Tips for ESL/EFL Learners »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners and Teachers (Teaching...
Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners and Teachers (Teaching...
Check Price on Amazon
103 Low-Prep ESL Speaking Games & Activities for Kids, Teenagers, and Adults: The Ultimate Book for...
103 Low-Prep ESL Speaking Games & Activities for Kids, Teenagers, and Adults: The Ultimate Book for...
Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What does this mean? I recommend products (only ones that I like) and if you purchase a product through that link, I earn some money.

Search this site

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults Who Want...
Check Price on Amazon
TOEFL iBT Vocabulary Builder for Score 90+: Higher-Level TOEFL Words, Expressions, Phrases & Idioms...
TOEFL iBT Vocabulary Builder for Score 90+: Higher-Level TOEFL Words, Expressions, Phrases & Idioms...
Check Price on Amazon
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
101 ESL Activities: Games, Activities, Practical ideas, & Teaching Tips For English Teachers of...
Check Price on Amazon

Different Types of Adverbs with Adverb Examples

Asking for Permission English Expressions, Phrases & Dialogues

Books For English Learners: Top 20 Easy Book Recommendations

Topics to Debate about With Friends | Debate Topics for Friends

50 Food Trivia Questions and Answers for All Ages

Online TEFL Courses

Get Certified Entirely Online

67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
Check Price on Amazon
Scatter Sheets for Intermediate-Advanced Students to Improve Fluency: ESL Speaking & Vocabulary...
Scatter Sheets for Intermediate-Advanced Students to Improve Fluency: ESL Speaking & Vocabulary...
Check Price on Amazon
1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
Check Price on Amazon
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For English Teachers of Kids (7+) Who Want to Get their TEFL Classes Started Off...
39 ESL Warm-Ups: For English Teachers of Kids (7+) Who Want to Get their TEFL Classes Started Off...
Check Price on Amazon
Jackie Bolen

Disclosure Statement

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Adult Activities
  • Kid Activities
  • Textbooks
  • Teacher Resources
  • Learn English

Our Top-Seller

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
Check Price on Amazon

Search

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

More ESL Activities

making weekend plans in english

Weekend Plans (Easy English Dialogue for Beginners)

how to order sushi in English

Ordering Sushi (Easy English Dialogue for Beginners)

English dialogue feeling under the weather

Feeling Under the Weather: English Dialogue & Practice Questions

dialogue meet someone new

Meeting Someone New Dialogue (For English Learners)

About, Contact, Privacy Policy

Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL speaking since 2014 and the goal is to bring you the best recommendations for English conversation games, activities, lesson plans and more. It’s your go-to source for everything TEFL!

About and Contact for ESL Speaking.

Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Email: [email protected]

Facebook

Pinterest

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Address: 2436 Kelly Ave, Port Coquitlam, Canada

Copyright © 2025 Jackie Bolen + ESL Speaking. All Rights Reserved.