Idiom
Full of beans
If someone is full of beans, they are lively, cheerful and full of energy.
How people use it
People often say it about children, pets and early risers: "The kids were full of beans after the party." It is warm and informal, and it is especially common in British English. Watch out for a second meaning in American English, where "full of beans" can mean talking nonsense or being wrong, a milder way of saying someone is full of hot air. Context usually tells you which one is meant. The energetic sense is about mood and activity, not food.
Examples
- Our puppy is full of beans every morning and races around the yard.
- Despite the long flight, Grandma was full of beans and wanted to explore the city.
- If you think the test will be easy, you're full of beans.
Where it comes from
The energetic sense is usually traced to horses. Horses fed on beans were thought to be lively and frisky, and people began describing energetic humans the same way in the 1800s, especially in Britain. The American sense of talking nonsense appeared later and may simply play on beans as something cheap and worthless. The horse explanation is widely accepted, though it is hard to prove.
Check yourself
1. In British English, what does it mean if a child is full of beans?
Answer: The child is very lively. Full of beans usually means full of energy and good spirits.
2. In American English, what else can "You're full of beans" mean?
Answer: You're talking nonsense. In the US, full of beans can mean wrong or talking nonsense, like full of hot air.
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