Full of beans means lively and full of energy. It describes a cheerful, energetic person: a child who can't sit still, or someone who is well rested. The idiom is British and conversational; in essays, energetic or lively is used instead.
When would you say full of beans?
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be full of beans; wake up/arrive full of beans
- The kids were full of beans after the party and refused to go to bed.
- Despite the early start, our tour guide was full of beans all day.
What changed
First versionGrandma was full with beans at her eightieth birthday party.
RevisionGrandma was full of beans at her eightieth birthday party.
With appears by analogy with filled with. But in this idiom full is followed only by of: full of beans. One preposition was changed.
Don't confuse it with full of yourself, “smug, conceited”: Since his promotion, he's been really full of himself. Full of beans sounds friendly and is only about energy and high spirits.
Your turn
Sam had slept for ten hours and was ___, cracking jokes and making coffee for everyone.
Show the answer
full of beans — After a good night's sleep, Sam is cracking jokes and making coffee for everyone, so he's lively and cheerful: full of beans. Down in the dumps means “sad, low”, which contradicts the jokes.
Describe a day when you felt especially energetic. Say where all that energy came from and what you managed to do.
I was full of beans after a long weekend in the mountains, so I went for a run and finished my report before nine.
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