busy as a bee

Compare Middle English bisy as bees.

• "Lord, I have been as busy as a bee ever since dinner!"
• "Heidi ran backwards and forwards as busy as a bee and brought out everything she could find in the cupboard, for she did not know how to be pleased enough that she could help to entertain the doctor."
• "There was his father bending over his papers at his writing-table before the window, busy as a bee no doubt at some new enthusiasm which was destined to infuriate his neighbours."

• busy as a beaver
• busy as a one-armed paperhanger
• busy as a dyke in a hardware store

• busy bee