What Happens When Insects Get in Our Idioms?

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

Insects -- or bugs² as we generally call them -- are of course necessary in the natural environment. But they are everywhere! They get into our homes. They invade our outdoor parties. So, of course, we have expressions that use insects or bugs.

The first one is really simple. If I say to someone: "You are bugging³ me!" it means the person is annoying, like a bug¹! Bugs can be pests, too. So, when someone is really, really annoying, we could say "stop pestering⁴ me!"

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

Here is an example. My friend Sylvia is full of energy. I don't think I have ever seen her sit down for longer than 10 minutes. This makes some people nervous. "Sit down, Sylvia! It's like you have ants in your pants!" they might say. We often use this expression for children ... and Sylvia.

Now, for some of our listeners, the weather is not getting warmer but rather colder. In those places, if you are warm and comfortable usually under many blankets, you can say you are snug⁵ as a bug in a rug.

Let's listen to how we use that expression.

Wow, the wind is really blowing out there.

And the temperature has dropped ten degrees since this morning.

So, do you still want to go out to a movie?

You know, I would love to. But right now, I am snug as a bug in a rug with a cup of tea and a great book.

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

Maybe to the kitchen for more tea but NOT outside.

This English in a Minute explains the expression "fly on the wall."

In places where the weather is getting warmer, insects like flies may be coming out to annoy you.

Sometimes their presence means that something bad or unpleasant is nearby. So, we can say a fly in the ointment⁶ to point to something bad that ruins something else. Ointment is a type of medicine that you put on your skin. If a fly lands in it, you really can't use it as medicine.

Let's hear that expression used in a couple of sentences.

Her surprise party for her husband's birthday was nearly ready. The food was ordered. The cake was made. And all his friends were hiding in their house. Then came the fly in the ointment. His flight was canceled, meaning he would miss his party.

Having a wedding onboard 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 loud engine. Nobody could hear a thing – not even "I do!"

Now, flies are everywhere. And we really do not think twice about killing⁷ them. So, if someone is very gentle with no violent feelings at all, we could say that person would not harm a fly.

Now, let's talk about another flying insect. This one is not annoying but rather very important. Bees are always working and make wonderful honey. So, you may have heard the expression to be as busy as a bee.

But did you know that if you have a bee in your bonnet⁸, you are angry about something? Something is annoying you. Maybe you haven't heard it. The expression is a bit old. After all, a bonnet is a type of hat worn by women as early as Medieval⁹ times. But sometimes we use this expression when we want to make fun of someone who is acting¹⁰ angry but for no good reason.

We don't want to be a bee in your bonnet. So, we won't tell you again and again and again to listen to VOA Learning English. That would be annoying. We just hope you will!

Words in This Story

annoying – adj. causing slight anger

pest – n. an animal or insect that causes problems for people especially by damaging crops : informal : a person who bothers or annoys other people

comfortable – adj. allowing you to be relaxed : causing no worries, difficulty, or uncertainty¹¹

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

onboard – adj. carried or happening on a vehicle

1 bug   

n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器

参考例句：

• There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
• The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。

2 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 bugging   

[法] 窃听

参考例句：

• Okay, then let's get the show on the road and I'll stop bugging you. 好，那么让我们开始动起来，我将不再惹你生气。 来自辞典例句
• Go fly a kite and stop bugging me. 走开，别烦我。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

4 pestering   

使烦恼，纠缠( pester的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's always pestering me to help him with his homework. 他总是泡蘑菇要我帮他做作业。
• I'm telling you once and for all, if you don't stop pestering me you'll be sorry. 我这是最后一次警告你。如果你不停止纠缠我，你将来会后悔的。

5 snug   

adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房

参考例句：

• He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
• She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。

6 ointment   

n.药膏，油膏，软膏

参考例句：

• Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.敷用这药膏后，你的脚会感到舒服些。
• This herbal ointment will help to close up your wound quickly.这种中草药膏会帮助你的伤口很快愈合。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 bonnet   

n.无边女帽；童帽

参考例句：

• The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
• She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

9 medieval   

adj.中世纪的，中古（时代）的

参考例句：

• This is a medieval story.这是一个中世纪的故事。
• The museum has a fine collection of medieval ivories.该博物馆收藏着一批精美的中世纪象牙制品。

10 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

11 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。