Full of
beans
Jumping beans
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons- INFORMAL
lively; in high spirits.
This phrase originated in the 14th century as ‘full of prunes’
at a time when dried plums were associated with digestive matters.
Beans are a good source of protein and energy. ‘Full of beans’ gradually
replaced the original phrase and was associated with horses, which, when fed on
fodder based on beans, were observed to be vigorous and in good condition. Thus,
to say that someone was full of beans has become quite complimentary.
Interestingly, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, says ‘beans have
long been popularly regarded as an aphrodisiac’, to which I can only say, ‘Well,
I never!’
Jumping beans are even more associated with liveliness. Mexican jumping
beans are not actually legumes, but spurges or euphorbia.
When the plants are flowering in the spring, the small jumping bean moth, Cydia saltitans, lays eggs on the hanging seed pods. When the eggs hatch, the larvae devour the developing seeds of the shrub, Sebastiania pavoniana. As the pods ripen, they fall to the ground and split into three parts, which are known as Mexican jumping beans. The larvae continue to consume the inside of the beans.
As they curl and uncurl, their actions make the ‘beans’ move. When the temperature rises, the beans jump even more as the larvae seek to move away from the heat. That is why a jumping bean held in the warmth of a hand will move significantly. If left in heat, the larvae will die. Those that have sufficient moisture and congenial temperature will develop and eventually leave the bean as adult moths, which will live long enough to lay eggs, dying after a few days.
Full of prunes sounds dangerous.
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting to learn about beans, especially the jumping bean.
It's never wise to be full of prunes.
DeleteI am ovo-lacto-pisco and therefore not vegetarian. But because beans are a good source of protein and energy, my family has probably added more beans to our cooking than meat-eating families. However I wish the taste of white beans was more delicious.
ReplyDeleteTell Hels to try Greek 'gigantes'. Large fat delicious white bean.
DeleteMany thanks... I had never heard of Greek gigantes before. But a search on line showed three suburbs near my Melbourne home with fresh beans and two supermarkets with tinned bins :)
DeleteI learn so much from comments - thank you.
DeleteHi Janice - full of beans ... and in high spirits ... I'd never heard of the horse connection - perhaps because those four-leggeds have not been part of my life. Interesting - we had jumping beans sent to us from Rhodesia by my aunt when I was a kid. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI've never had jumping beans and now I'm sure I don't want any!
DeleteAlso reminded me of my 'Bile Beans' WEP prompt for Phantom of the Opera - October 2023 ... you mentioned Carter's Liver pills .... cheers Hilary
DeleteThis is good! Fun. Now I'll think of this every time I cook up a pot of beans. And how I remember the disappointment when my mother would finally relent and let me buy a jumping bean. I never had one that jumped!
ReplyDeleteYour hot little hand clearly wasn't hot enough :-)
DeleteIs it fair to assume that humans don't eat the 'jumping beans'? (Or are the larvae just some extra protein?)
ReplyDeleteYuk!!
DeleteThey are not toxic and can be eaten, though I don't know why one would. Extra protein, as you say. but 'Yuk' as JayCee says.
DeleteI think beans is associated today with, well (no nice way of saying it), flatulence . :)
ReplyDeleteThe old rhyme, 'Beans are good for your . . . '
DeleteWhen I was growing up in New York City, I was able to buy small packets of Mexican jumping beans. They were fascinating and I'm glad none of those moths ever hatched out. After a while, the beans just stopped moving.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if people still buy them.
DeleteI'd heard of jumping beans, but didn't know much else, let alone that they aren't actually beans! Thank your for another educational post, Janice! xxx
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to learn about the moth larvae . . . bit of a shudder!
DeleteA fascinating post, thank you. I enjoy learning these things.
ReplyDeleteI'm just adding to the amount of useless information I've got ;-)
DeleteFull of beans is a popular phrase.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting read, thank you.
All the best Jan
It's funny how we use expressions without knowing where they've come from.
DeleteAnother interesting one. I love reading about different phrases and where they came from and how they evolved.
ReplyDeleteSo do I! (I think you can probably tell . . . )
DeleteI love to eat beans but didn't know that they have such a lot of meanings ! interesting !
ReplyDeleteBeans are a good source of protein, so keep eating them:-)
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