Cats' pyjamas, ants' pants and bees' knees

@JudyEv (355749)
Rockingham, Australia
June 11, 2025 6:23pm CST
The photo is of the alpacas at the B&B where we stayed last Saturday. Nothing to do with the discussion although alpacas always look like they’re wearing pyjamas. There are often discussions here about various sayings and how some are known to some countries but not to others. Three that came to mind recently make no sense at all but all native-born Australians would know what they mean. They are ‘cats’ pyjamas’, 'bees' knees' and ‘ants’ pants’. Of course, cats wouldn’t usually wear pyjamas nor would ants wear pants. I don't know if bees have knees or not so who knows where these phrases came from? All mean that something is excellent or the best of its kind. If you didn’t know the sayings, you’d probably only pick up the meaning from the context. However, if you say someone has ants in their pants, it means they are fidgety and restless.
15 people like this
14 responses
@FourWalls (75620)
• United States
12 Jun
I’ve heard “the bees’ knees” saying before.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
I haven't heard any of them lately.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (476134)
• Italy
12 Jun
We have the saying ants in your pants, never heard the others. Yes, bees have knees.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (476134)
• Italy
12 Jun
@JudyEv - It is really a weird saying, I wonder where it comes.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
We used to say about a girl at school 'She thinks she's the cats' pyjamas'! Such a silly saying.
1 person likes this
@rakski (139027)
• Philippines
12 Jun
I love how colorful and strange these old expressions are
2 people like this
@rakski (139027)
• Philippines
20h
@JudyEv yes, very strange
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
I wonder who thinks them up! Some are very strange.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (85910)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jun
Way back in another decade saying something was the bees knees meant really great. I think some of this comes from Australian slang of some kind I have heard about,
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
You could be right as no-one here seems to have heard of the expressions.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (190998)
• United States
12 Jun
Those are all familiar to me.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
Oh, okay. I've just finished saying I thought they must mostly be Australian!
@Dreamerby (8461)
• Calcutta, India
12 Jun
Oh I didn't know the meaning of these phrases. Thanks! (I have heard the ants in their pants one though I can imagine why they would be restless and fidgety)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
Yes, I wouldn't want to have ants in my pants.
2 people like this
@Dreamerby (8461)
• Calcutta, India
12 Jun
@JudyEv nobody would
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (191034)
• United States
12 Jun
Those sayings were popular here in the 20's. People sometimes say them when they want to be funny. Ants in the pants probably lasted the longest.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
Yes, the sayings are very old. You don't hear them here too often.
2 people like this
@allknowing (147205)
• India
12 Jun
'Ants in the pants' - I am aware of this saying but not the others.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
They are very old sayings. It's not surprising they've gone out of use.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (140456)
• Philippines
12 Jun
I find it funny when saying or reading idioms.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
There are some very strange ones that's for sure.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (144656)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 Jun
I have only heard ants in your pants before.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
That is probably the most common.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (117436)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Jun
I never heard ants pants before
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
It must be an Australian term.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jun
It is funny how these sayings become popular but I do know what each of them means I remember when I was in school and the teacher would say you have "ants in your pants" to students who couldn't sit still.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
Ants in your pants has been around a long, long time and it's one Americans seem to know.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15475)
• Hong Kong
12 Jun
I'm not aware of the sayings. Learned something new.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun
You don't hear them very often nowadays.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Jun
I know all those expressions.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (355749)
• Rockingham, Australia
12h
It seems some know them all but others don't. Maybe it's an age thing.
1 person likes this