[Ads-l] the bee's knees (1920)

[Jonathan Lighter]

I don't think I understand the question.


 JL

On Sat, Oct 20, 2018 at 8:52 AM Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com> wrote:

> What about the list of "novelties", really false items, that included
> "bee's knees"?
>
> On Sat, Oct 20, 2018, 8:48 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > To be a little more precise, "the bee's knees" (and similar expressions)
> > mean "something extraordinary or superlative."  Some early exx. imply
> > frustration or amazement rather than appreciation. (Of the sort, "Ain't
> > that the bee's knees?")
> >
> > "The berries" was used similarly.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Sat, Oct 20, 2018 at 8:42 AM Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > So "bee's knees" went from a thing that doesn't exist (but con men try
> to
> > > convince you does) to a thing that does exist but is exceptionally
> rare?
> > >
> > > On Sat, Oct 20, 2018, 4:31 AM Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Another non-superlative use, in a nonsense anatomy lecture:
> > > >
> > > > "The kidneys are much bigger than a bee's knees and much the shape of
> > > > kidney beans."
> > > >
> > > > (Lancaster) Wisconsin Herald, Jan. 24, 1846, 1:3. Am. Hist. Newsp.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > SG
> > > >
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> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
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>
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>


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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