full of beans

full of beans UK

Choose the correct definition a, b or c.

a) appearing jealous ; appearing envious

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

b) having a lot of money

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

c) having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

Well done ! That’s the right answer.

Being full of beans means being very energetic or having a lot of enthusiasm.

French translation

déborder d’énergie, d’enthousiasme ; avoir la pêche

Examples in use

’Britain is full of beans as record numbers join the Grow Your Own revolution, finds Gardeners’ World Magazine.’

BBC Worldwide Press Releases, 22 Nov. 2011

’I recall Cameron slipping away from his guests occasionally to take calls, and his mounting sadness during the afternoon as he realised that Laws would have to go. Otherwise, only 18 days into his premiership, he was full of beans, delighted by the way that the two parties were cooperating in the boxfresh Coalition, and very much the genial host.’

The Telegraph, 22 Nov. 2011

Everyday usage

I’ve never met anyone so full of beans before breakfast.

Missed last week’s phrase ? Catch up here.

Vous avez raté les précédents T-learning ?

full of beans

a) appearing jealous ; appearing envious

b) having a lot of money

c) having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

Vous avez raté les précédents T-learning ?

egg on your face

a hot potato

a fat cat

under the gun

to have a sweet tooth

to go ape

a bad apple

a bird’s eye view

I’ve got ants in my pants

to pay through the nose

to turn a new leaf

to leave someone high and dry

in apple-pie order

to feel the pinch

too many chiefs and not enough Indians

to give someone rope

hard as nails

a glass cliff

to save one’s bacon

to be the cat’s whiskers

a dead duck

once in a blue moon

to go to town

to chase one’s tail

for a song

to pull one’s socks up

on the sly

to go down memory lane

to put something on ice

revolving door

up in arms

It won’t wash !

to miss the memo

back to square one

a kangaroo court

to rub shoulders

to go to the dogs

a cock-and-bull story

to be on the rocks

to be rolling in it

as sharp as a needle

He is out of the woods

Be there or be square !

neck and neck

Bless your cotton socks

mad as a box of frogs

as high as a kite

to give the rubber stamp

walking on air

to bite the dust

to throw the book at someone

a dummy run

a slowcoach

a fishing expedition

Nothing ventured, nothing gained !

Everything is coming up roses

Make hay while the sun shines

on the fly

No rest for the wicked !

at the drop of a hat

Hold your horses !

a grease monkey

tanked up

to go off half-cocked

to go stir crazy

get your ducks in a row

Stay put !

to knuckle down

to go Dutch

to lose your rag

jumped-up

in the dog house

clean as a whistle

If life gives you lemons, ...

one sandwich short of a picnic