Make a beeline?_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Make a beeline?

Reader question:

"I watched Dolan. He marched into the locker room after that game – he made a beeline."

In the above quote, what does "made a beeline" mean?

My comments:

He went directly (to the locker room), without stopping and turning to talk to anyone. You may infer that he was not happy with the result of the game.

"Make a beeline" is an American idiom. It's a phrase inspired from honey-making bees. After a worker bee locates an orchard full of flowers, he comes back to the nest to tell his co-workers where it is. He breaks the news by dancing... Anyway, he's able to relate the exact direction of the orchard full of flowers he just found so that his co-workers can make what is known as a beeline for that destination.

For a person to make a beeline for or some place, they know exactly where they're heading – and so they go straight there without distraction or detour. You can also make a beeline for another person, in which case you go directly to them.

When people make a beeline, it often implies that they have something, good or sinister, on their mind. They might be angry, advancing to the person or place in a threatening, disappointing, anxious manner. Or they might be very happy, joyful, longing.

Talking doesn't help much. I'd better give you examples showing how the phrase is used. In fact, we learn idioms like this best by meeting them face to face in real situations – this way, sooner or later we'll figure out what they mean, plus how and where they are best fit to use.