Cats' pyjamas, ants' pants and bees' knees
By Judy Evans
@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
@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
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
@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
@allknowing (147205)
• India
12 Jun
'Ants in the pants' - I am aware of this saying but not the others.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (84969)
• 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
@Beestring (15475)
• Hong Kong
12 Jun
I'm not aware of the sayings. Learned something new.
2 people like this
