Where did the phrase "bee's knees" originate?

1 Answer
krishna kishore G.
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.

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