What Occurs When Bugs Get in Our Idioms?

And now words and their stories from VOA Learning English.

Insects – or beetles as we commonly call them – are naturally necessary in the natural environment. But they are everywhere! They come to our homes. They invade our outdoor parties. So, of course, we have terms that use insects or beetles.

The first is really easy. When I say to someone: “You annoy me!” it means that the person is annoyinglike a beetle! Mistakes can be Pests, also. So if someone is really, really annoying, we could say, “Stop bothering me!”

Thousands of ants warm themselves under the rays of the sun on a sunny spring day on the surface of an anthill in a forest on the outskirts of Minsk, Belarus, on March 22, 2019.

Ants can also be pests. They are so small that you can go anywhere. In fact, if we sit on the floor for too long, they can even get in our pants. If you have ants in your pants, you can move around or dance around to get them out. So the expression Have ants in their pants means you cannot sit still. You keep moving.

Here is an example. My friend Sylvia is full of energy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her sit for more than 10 minutes. That makes some people nervous. “Sit down, Sylvia! It’s like with ants in your pants! “You could say. We use this term a lot for children … and Sylvia.

For some of our listeners, the weather is not getting warmer, but rather colder. In these places when you are warm and comfortable Usually under many blankets you can say that you are cozy like a beetle in a carpet.

Let’s listen to how we use this phrase.

Wow, the wind is really blowing out there.

And the temperature has dropped ten degrees since this morning.

Do you still want to go to the cinema?

You know i would like to do it. But right now I’m as comfortable as a bug in a carpet with a cup of tea and a great book.

Doesn’t sound like you’re going anywhere tonight!

Maybe in the kitchen for more tea, but NOT outside.

This English in One Minute explains the expression “fly on the wall”.

In places where the weather is getting warmer, insects like flies can come out to annoy you.

Sometimes their presence means that something bad or unpleasant is around. So we can say a fly in the ointment to indicate something bad that is ruining something else. Ointment is a type of medicine that you apply to your skin. If a fly lands in it, it really cannot be used as medicine.

Let’s hear this expression in a few sentences.

Her surprise birthday party for her husband was almost ready. The food was ordered. The cake was made. And all of his friends were hiding in their house. Then came the fly in the ointment. His flight was canceled which meant he would miss his party.

A … have Wedding on board A boat sailing along the blue sea seemed like a great idea. The weather was beautiful and everyone was happy. The only fly in the ointment was the boat’s noisy engine. Nobody could hear anything – not even “I do!”

Now flies are everywhere. And we really don’t think twice about killing her. So if someone is very gentle and doesn’t have any violent feelings at all, we can say that person would do no harm to a fly.

In this file photo dated August 7, 2019, the queen bee (highlighted in green) and worker bees are moving around a beehive at Veterans Affairs in Manchester, NH (AP Photo / Elise Amendola, file).

Now let’s talk about another flying insect. This is not annoying, but very important. Bees always work and make wonderful honey. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase as Busy like a bee.

But did you know that when you Got a bee in your hoodAre you mad at something? Something is bothering you. Maybe you didn’t hear it. The expression is a bit old. After all, a bonnet is a type of hat that women already wore in the Middle Ages. But sometimes we use this term when we want to make fun of someone who is acting angry for no good reason.

We don’t want to be a bee in your hood. So we won’t keep telling you to listen to VOA Learning English. That would be annoying. We just hope you will!

And that’s all the time we have for these words and their stories! Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

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Words in this story

annoying – adj. cause slight anger

pest – n. An animal or insect that causes problems for people, especially by damaging plants: informal: a person who annoys or annoys other people

comfortable – adj. So you can be relaxed :: do not cause worry, difficulty or insecurity

wedding – n. a ceremony in which two people are married to each other

on board – adj. worn or happened on a vehicle