"Mi
nd your beeswax" – The Origin and Strange Meaning of an English Idiom Have you ever heard someone tell you to "mind your beeswax" when you were being too nosy? This quirky phrase is actually an English idiom that dates back to the 18th century, and its meaning is not as straightforward as you might expect. To understand the phrase's origins, we have to delve into the world of candle-making. In the old days, candles were made of beeswax, a natural wax produced by bees. Because beeswax was expensive, people who made candles wanted to preserve as much of it as possible. To do this, they would melt down the leftover pieces of beeswax and save them for later use. However, melting beeswax produces a sticky substance that can be hard to clean. If someone was helping with the candle-making process and got too close to the beeswax, they might accidentally get their hands stuck in the melted wax. To prevent this from happening, candle-makers would tell their helpers to "mind their own beeswax" and stay out of the way. Over time, the phrase "mind your own beeswax" evolved into the shorter version we know today: "mind your beeswax." The meaning also shifted from a warning to stay out of the way to a phrase used to tell someone to mind their own business or stop being nosy. The idiom has also taken on various forms in different parts of the world. In Scotland, for example, people use the phrase "mind your own tatties," referring to the potato fields that farmers would want to protect from outsiders. In Australia, the phrase "mind your own plate of meat" is used, referencing the meat pie that's a popular snack in the country. Regardless of its origin or variations, "mind your beeswax" is a fun and quirky English idiom that has stood the test of time. Next time someone tells you to mind your own business, just remember that you're being reminded to stay out of the beeswax.