Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is adjective phrase 35. The adjective phrase today is
full of beans. Now this is kind of ironic because full of beans
is a common phrase in both Britain and in the US, but they have two very
different meanings in both countries. So let's take a look at the note here. In
Britain if someone says that another person is full of beans, it means that he
or she is very lively or has lots of energy or maybe even enthusiasm. In the
US if someone says another person is full of beans, it means that whatever
that person is saying is nonsense. Don't trust it or expressing falsehoods
basically that's what he is saying. So these are two very different meanings. One is more
positive, the other one is actually a little more negative. Okay. Let's
continue here. The origin of the British meaning for full of beans dates back to
the 1400s. The phrase is originally said to have been you know, full of prunes. I know
that somehow seems connected to the full of beans in a way. And then
changed to full of beans. Okay. Good. this came about due to the fact that
horses were often fed beans and after eating ... after eating them the horses
seemed to quickly be very lively or you know full of energy. Okay.
Nowadays, this phrase is used to mean that one is full of energy and
enthusiasm. At least in Britain that's the meaning . Okay. Good. The origin of nonsense
in the US ... Yes.Well basically the origin of you know, full of beans
meaning nonsense in the US is believed to be a more euphemistic way of saying
the more offensive phrases of full of shit or bullshit. So
a lot of times you know, maybe some people didn't want to say the more
offensive ones they didn't want to say he's full of shit. They'd say well , he's
full of beans or you know, rather than saying bullshit, they'd say he's full of
beans. It's a lot nicer. So in this sense full of beans in the US was probably
changed to be more euphemistic . Although in a way, it's kind of funny that it's
still kind of connected. It's kind of connected to the idea of prunes in a way
because in the US. when you eat prunes, it's kind of ... like it's kind of a laxative
that would make you go poo poo. And who knows maybe even the horses... If the
horses ate a lot of beans they might be full of energy , but you know, sooner or
later those beans have got to come out again. And that would be a lot of poo poo too.
But anyway, this is what we mean. So we got two different meanings of it. One is
full of beans in Britain meaning you know having energy and being
enthusiastic and in the US meaning that somebody is either talking nonsense
or you know expressing falsehoods or something like that.
All right. Let's, let's continue here. All right. So we got four examples. And the
first two of course are like the British example. So after finding out they won
the award, they were full of beans. So they were full of excitement, enthusiasm,
they're very lively. All right. Number two. Also the British one. Upon seeing his
newborn baby. He was full of beans. So again, very excited, enthusiastic, lots of
energy. All right. And three and four of course would be the American version of
full of beans. Don't pay attention to anything he says. He is full of beans. Yes.
So again. It's probably used instead of the more offensive you know, full of shit.
All right. And number four here. Don't trust anything that politicians say. Most of
them are full of beans. So you know, if you want to avoid the more offensive
ones this is a nicer choice. So you say somebody is just full of beans. That
pretty much almost means the same thing. Anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it was clear. I
hope it was very informative. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.