Where did the phrase "bee's knees" originate?
1 Answer
Sep 20, 2016
The singular bee's knee is attested from the late 18th century meaning something small or insignificant in the phrase big as a bee's knee. Also as weak as a bee's knee is attested in Ireland (1870). It is possible that the bee's knees is a deliberate inversion of this meaning, but is not attested.
