bee in one's bonnet



bee in one's bonnet

A strange idea or notion; also, an idea that is harped on, an obsession. For example, Bill's got a bee in his bonnet about burglars; he's always imagining strange noises. This term, which replaced the earlier have bees in one's head, transfers the buzzing of a bee inside one's hat to a weird idea in one's head. [Second half of 1600s]
See also: bee, bonnet

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Clemmie['klemi]
Glynis-Welsh
ErhardER-hahrt (German)German, Ancient Germanic
Yejide-Western African, Yoruba
CoenKOONDutch
GottholdGAWT-hawltGerman