1920s Slang Deep Dive: The Bee’s Knees Explained
Summary: A definitive guide to the Roaring Twenties compliment that meant the absolute best.
In this post:
- What “bee’s knees” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1920s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “bee’s knees” mean?
In the 1920s, calling something the “bee’s knees” meant it was outstanding, first-rate, or delightful—one of several animal-themed superlatives along with “cat’s pajamas.”
How it was used in the 1920s
Magazines and vaudeville popularized playful praise. You’d hear, “That new jazz record is the bee’s knees,” or “Myrtle’s roadster is the bee’s knees.”
Modern equivalents
• top-notch
• excellent
• awesome