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.
