June 10 - Hiving Off

What about the expression hive off? It must come from hive as in a bee hive.  You can see it visually - taking a chunk of a bee hive. The definition gives no reference to a bee hive:  "to transfer or be transferred from a larger group or unit, to transfer profitable activities o or unit." When we think of it, there are many expressions that are directly inspired by bees. Some are still in use while others seem to have become dated. the birds and the bees Lessons about sex, such as are typically taught to children or young adults.  put the bee on (someone) To ask or pressure someone for a loan or donation of money. Primarily heard in US. Jane's good-for-nothing brother always comes around our place every couple of weeks to put the bee on us for a few bucks.The alumni association of my old university puts the bee on me once or twice a year looking for a donation queen bee  A woman who has authority or is in a dominant or favored position over her peers. An allusion to the (typically) lone egg-laying female of a bee colony. Martha fancies herself a queen bee after her promotion, but she's only an assistant supervisor. You'll have to ask the queen bee before you put through any more orders on the company card. be (as) busy as a bee  To be very busy. I'm currently choreographing three plays, so I'm as busy as a bee. Can we meet next week instead? I'm busy as a bee right now. a bee in (one's) bonnet  An obsession, often with something that is strange or  asource of agitation. Ever since the blizzard last year, dad has had a bee in his bonnet about moving to a warmer climate. It seems that Mike still has a bee in his bonnet over thec riticism he got in the staff meeting. the bee's knees  Dated slang. Something or someone highly enjoyable, desirable, or impressive, especially in a fancy or elaborate way. Tom's new Cadillac is really the bee's knees! Boy, that singer last night was the bee's knees, wasn't she? Today's picture is an unusual orchid in the Longwood Garden orchid house.