bee in one's bonnet
Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession.
He has had a bee in his bonnet ever since he heard about the problem.
bonnet
UK /ˈbɒnɪt/ US /ˈbɑnɪt/
noun 5verb 3name 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
beneath, black, brown, cool, open, touched, under, verified
VERB + BONNET
boot, cannot, find, glittering, laugh, mourning, put, saw
BONNET + NOUN
bandage, car, engine, rima's
PREP.
about, from, in, in, off, on, on
ADV.
such
Definitions
noun
1
A type of hat, once worn by women or children, held in place by ribbons tied under the chin.
In the hall, Scarlett saw a bonnet and put it on hurriedly, tying the ribbons under her chin. It was Melanie's black mourning bonnet and it did not fit Scarlett's head but she could not recall where she had put her own bonnet.
“Now,” said he, “put such a bonnet as that in the show window.” He did not fill his show-window up town with a lot of hats and bonnets to drive people away, and then sit on the back stairs and bawl because people went to Wanamaker's to trade.
2
A traditional Scottish woollen brimless cap; a bunnet.
A shock-head of red hair, which the hat and periwig of the Lowland costume had in a great measure concealed, was seen beneath the Highland bonnet, and verified the epithet of Roy, or Red, by which he was much better known in the low country than by any other, and is still, I suppose, best remembered.
3
The polishing head of a power buffer, often made of wool.
Make sure that the power buffer's lamb's-wool bonnet is clean. Change or rinse the bonnet frequently to avoid scratching the finish. Use the bonnet as a mitten to buff in the crevices and other areas that the power buffer can't reach.
4
The hinged cover over the engine of a motor car.
The car is burgundy red, wide and elegant, ten years old but still the boys are impressed and they run to touch it, pressing sticky handprints against the polished bodywork and trying to climb up onto the bonnet.
People were reluctant to slam a bonnet shut in those days. One just did not slam bonnets and doors.
5
A length of canvas attached to a fore-and-aft sail to increase the pulling power.
And standing along to the Westward, this night we tryed with our mayne coarse and bonnet. On Saturday night we came to an anker, in three fathomes against Sewramo.
verb
1
To put a bonnet on.
2
To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover.
Hee hath deſerued worthily of his Countrey, and his aſſent is not by ſuch eaſie degrees as thoſe, who hauing beene ſupple and courteous to the People, Bonnetted, without any further deed, to haue them at all into their eſtimation, and report:
3
To pull the bonnet or cap down over the eyes of.
“You’re a dutiful and affectionate little boy, you are, ain’t you?” said Mr. Weller, “to come a bonnetin’ your father in his old age?”
name
1
A surname from French.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
In the hall, Scarlett saw a bonnet and put it on hurriedly, tying the ribbons under her chin. It was Melanie's black mourning bonnet and it did not fit Scarlett's head but she could not recall where s
Wiktionary02
“Now,” said he, “put such a bonnet as that in the show window.” He did not fill his show-window up town with a lot of hats and bonnets to drive people away, and then sit on the back stairs and bawl be
Wiktionary03
A shock-head of red hair, which the hat and periwig of the Lowland costume had in a great measure concealed, was seen beneath the Highland bonnet, and verified the epithet of Roy, or Red, by which he
Wiktionary04
Hee hath deſerued worthily of his Countrey, and his aſſent is not by ſuch eaſie degrees as thoſe, who hauing beene ſupple and courteous to the People, Bonnetted, without any further deed, to haue them
Wiktionary05
“You’re a dutiful and affectionate little boy, you are, ain’t you?” said Mr. Weller, “to come a bonnetin’ your father in his old age?”
Wiktionary06
How do I open the bonnet?
Tatoeba · #389453Usage Notes
i Register
In some senses, bonnet is marked as obsolete, dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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