General
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
What does bright-eyed and bushy-tailed mean?
Wide awake and full of enthusiasm, like a fresh squirrel.
"She showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6 a.m."
Origin
American idiom comparing an eager person to an alert, bushy-tailed squirrel.
Frequently asked questions
What does "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" mean?
It describes someone wide awake, alert, and full of eager energy.
Where does it come from?
It's an American idiom comparing an eager person to an alert, bushy-tailed squirrel.
How do you use it?
Describe someone lively and eager, often early in the morning, e.g. "She showed up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6 a.m."
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