Welcome to our fun guide on insect idioms! These are phrases that include the word insect or are related to insects. Even though they might sound a bit strange, each one has a special meaning that we use in everyday English. Kids and adults alike can learn something new here, so let’s dive into the world of idioms!
Insect Idioms
Here are 20 insect idioms in English.
1. Busy as a bee
Meaning: Very active and hardworking.
Example: She’s as busy as a bee during the harvest season.
2. Butterflies in the stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous.
Example: I get butterflies in my stomach before speeches.
3. Snug as a bug in a rug
Meaning: Very comfortable and cozy.
Example: In winter, I’m snug as a bug in a rug.
4. Make a beeline for
Meaning: Go straight towards something.
Example: He made a beeline for the snacks.
5. Ants in your pants
Meaning: Unable to sit still.
Example: The kids have ants in their pants today.
6. Like a moth to a flame
Meaning: Attracted to something despite the dangers.
Example: He’s drawn like a moth to a flame to fast cars.
7. Spider’s web of deceit
Meaning: A complex, deceitful plot.
Example: The mystery novel was a spider’s web of deceit.
8. Bee in her bonnet
Meaning: Obsessed with an idea.
Example: She’s got a bee in her bonnet about cleaning.
9. Fly on the wall
Meaning: An unnoticed observer.
Example: I wish I were a fly on the wall during their talk.
10. Wouldn’t hurt a fly
Meaning: Extremely gentle.
Example: My grandma wouldn’t hurt a fly.
11. Drop like flies
Meaning: Fall down or fail rapidly.
Example: Students were dropping like flies in the heat.
12. Have a bee’s knee
Meaning: To have excellent or the highest quality of something.
Example: His new car is the bee’s knees.
13. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid restarting a conflict.
Example: They stopped arguing, best to let sleeping dogs lie.
14. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: He only visits once in a blue moon.
15. Out of the blue
Meaning: Unexpectedly.
Example: He called me out of the blue yesterday.
16. A fly in the ointment
Meaning: A small defect that spoils something.
Example: A typo was the fly in the ointment of her essay.
17. Bee’s knees
Meaning: Something of excellent quality.
Example: This pie is the bee’s knees!
18. The birds and the bees
Meaning: Euphemism for explaining reproduction.
Example: It’s time we talked about the birds and the bees.
19. Worm your way out of
Meaning: Escape from an obligation.
Example: He wormed his way out of doing chores.
20. Turn into a butterfly
Meaning: To transform significantly.
Example: She turned into a butterfly after her makeover.
