beeswax

mind (one's) own beeswax

To not interfere in someone else's affairs; to not pry or be nosy. Often used as an imperative. Mind your own beeswax, will you? I can take care of my problems just fine. I really wish she would mind her own beeswax and stop asking me about my finances. So there I was, minding my own beeswax, when the security guard comes over and starts asking me all kinds of questions.
See also: beeswax, mind, own

none of (one's) beeswax

Something that is of no concern to another. This phrase is a less formal or serious version of "none of (one's) business." It's none of your beeswax why I left the party early the other night.
See also: beeswax, none, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Mind your own beeswax.

to mind one's own business. (Juvenile.) You just mind your own beeswax! Lay off! Mind your own beeswax!
See also: beeswax, mind, own

none of someone's beeswax

Inf. none of someone's business. (Jocular.) It's none of your beeswax. I'm not telling. You'll never know. The answer is none of your beeswax.
See also: beeswax, none, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

none of one's business

Not one's concern, as in How much I earn is none of your business. This expression employs business in the sense of "one's affairs," a usage dating from about 1600. (Also see mind one's own business.) A slangy, jocular variant from about 1930 is none of one's beeswax. The related verb phrase have no business is used to indicate that one should not meddle or interfere, as in He has no business discussing the will with outsiders.
See also: business, none, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

beeswax

(ˈbizwæks)
n. business; concern. (see also mind your own beeswax, none of someone’s beeswax.) Tend to your own beeswax.

mind your own beeswax

(...ˈbizwæks)
tv. to mind one’s own business. (Juvenile.) Lay off! Mind your own beeswax!
See also: beeswax, mind, own

none of someone’s beeswax

(...ˈbizwæks)
n. none of someone’s business. It’s none of your beeswax. I’m not telling.
See also: beeswax, none, of
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

mind your own beeswax

A euphemism for “mind your own business.” Since “mind their own business” sounds harsh, if not impolite, the close-sounding word “beeswax” was substituted. Those to whom the remark was directed might still get their noses out of joint, but somewhat less so than if the word had been “business.” An interesting, although fanciful, piece of folk etymology tells us that American colonial women stood over a kettle and stirred wax to make candles. If they didn't pay attention, the wax or fire might burn their hair and clothing. Someone who let her concentration wander would be reminded to “mind your own beeswax.”
See also: beeswax, mind, own
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • aint
  • ain't
  • be like ships in the night
  • be like ships that pass in the night
  • be ships that pass in the night
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • not for a instant
References in periodicals archive
Pour the beeswax pastilles, resin, and oil into the bowl.
Reusable Food Wraps: These eco-friendly fabric food wraps are the bee's knees, and you can choose any color or print you like when you make them yourself
The mother-of-four sources her cotton cloth from a supplier in Oswestry and her beeswax from local beekeepers.
Carol's food wrappings aim to banish cling film
"I believe this luxury appeal continues today, as beeswax remains the benchmark for candles."
light the way: A dedicated artisan blends luxury and craftsmanship to create candles reaching far beyond Mississippi
Mean particle size of selected GMS and beeswax formulations were ~534 [+ or -] 32 nm and ~176 [+ or -] 22 nm (values presented as mean [+ or -] SEM) with PDI of 0.248 and 0.396 and (n = 3) respectively (Figures 2(b) and 2(d)).
Development and Characterization of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Herbal Extract: In Vivo Antidepressant Activity
Effect of the Beeswax Coating on the TBARS Concentration.
Effects of Beeswax Coating on the Oxidative Stability of Long-Ripened Italian Salami
The most abundant evidence of beeswax appeared on pottery shards from the Balkan Peninsula, including Greece and the Aegean Islands.
Bees sweetened early farmers' lives: chemical traces on pottery point to broad use of wax, honey
A 40,000-year-old lump of beeswax from Border Cave in South Africa may have been used to help bind stone points to wood to make spears, for instance, and depictions of beehives are common in prehistoric rock art found all over sub-Saharan Africa.
Early farmers exploited honeybee products
*Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm PS3.69 is available from selected pharmacies and at www.burtsbees.co.uk
Lip service
Beeswax beauty cream moisturiser Makes approx 150ml Ingredients 65ml olive oil 2 tsp beeswax, finely grated 1 tsp liquid lecithin 60ml distilled water Method 1.
How to make up your own beauty products; Take a break from high street lotions and potions and try the natural look
The workers use 6-7 kg of honey to produce 1 kg of beeswax. The development of these glands depends on age and feeding (Brown, 2010).
Energetic feedings influence beeswax production by Apis mellifera L. honeybees/Alimentacao energetica influencia producao de cera por abelhas Apis mellifera L
The most traditional--and least harmful--wood treatment is a natural oil finish polished by something like beeswax. While it does not provide as much protection as more modern finishes such as varnish, an oil finish brings out the natural beauty of the wood and does the least harm to your lungs.
Your sustainable home: natural life publisher Rolf Priesnitz writes about ways to design, build, renovate, and enjoy a green, healthy home
The couple are also selling beeswax candles and honey.
BUSINESS IS BUZZING
Schools attending the workshops on March 4 next year will get the opportunity to compare ancient and modern hives, try on a beekeeping suit, extract honey from the beeswax frames and make beeswax frames.
Praise Bee! Cathedrals join forces to sell honey; Joint project as hives are set up in grounds
As a first approach, the researchers used beeswax to - ttach a pair of 3D glasses - the world's tiniest - to the mantis.
This bug has specs appeal
The basis for the pysanka (singular, from the Ukrainian word pysaty, "to write'') is a raw egg that the artist decorates with patterns of melted beeswax and a series of dyes.
Pretty little pysanky; Ancient spring tradition brightens Christmas season