bee in one's bonnet

Definitions

Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“He has had a bee in his bonnet ever since he heard about the problem.”

“The BBC is well used to being a punchbag for every crank with a bee in their bonnet or a score⟳ to settle⟳ but some critics are not so easily dismissed.”

“McCain stands up for nuclear energy. This puts a spring⟳ in my step and a song in my heart. I have⟳ to give⟳ him credit; when he has a bee in his bonnet, he is often willing to stand⟳ up for things, like⟳ free trade⟳ and immigration, that freak voters out.”

“Giraffedata has a single bee in his bonnet, the phrase "comprised of." He has written a 6,000-word essay on his Wikipedia user page explaining why he thinks it's an egregious error.”

“Reader Vivien Bailey also has a bee in her bonnet: “The usage that I detest is the growing use⟳ of the word ‘birth’ as a verb. This seems to have⟳ come⟳ in waves starting five or six years ago, and we’re in the middle of a wave⟳ now.””

CEFR level