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“Bee’s knees” is an idiom used to describe something of high quality or attractiveness. It originated in the early 20th century and evolved to refer to a popular dance move, song, or romantic interest. While it has lost popularity, it still conveys a sense of uniqueness and superiority.
“The bee’s knees” is a common idiomatic expression in many areas of the English-speaking world. Typically, the idiom is used to describe an event, object, or person that is considered to be of very high quality, possessing characteristics that are considered highly attractive, or that distinguish the object in some way. A number of other idioms that include the use of different forms of wildlife are also meant to convey this same state of exceptionality, such as the cat’s pajamas and the eel’s ankle.
The origin of the “bee knee pads” seems to date back to the early years of the 20th century. Various authors and journalists used the term during the first ten years of the new century to describe somewhat small and insignificant, but unique objects. The term has also sometimes been used in satirical pieces. By the 1920s, especially in the United States, the idiom had evolved into something entirely different. Beginning with the social elite and gradually gaining traction among people in college and beyond, “bee’s knees” became a popular way to refer to a popular new dance move, a big new song that was catching a lot of attention and even to someone who was considered an ideal potential romantic interest.
At the time, it was not uncommon for radio announcers to use the term when introducing a new recording that was sure to cause a sensation, or for young lovers to proclaim that their dream boy or girl was exceptional enough to be worthy of being referred to as the knees of the bee. As is true of many popular phrases, “bee’s knees” grew in popularity for a while, then slowly began to lose ground to newer sayings that grabbed the public’s attention. While the phrase has remained a part of living speech, it’s often thought of as an old-fashioned, fanciful expression that has more to do with the Roaring Twenties that preceded the despair of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Today, the use of “bee’s knees” usually occurs in the context of period-focused theater productions or when discussing a book written during the early part of the 20th century. Though dated, the phrase can still conjure up images of something unique and unusually pleasing in some way, a factor that occasionally prompts one generation or another to make one use of the phrase. Even in limited use, “Bee’s Knees” still conveys images of something precious, unique and of superior quality.
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