This phrase alludes to the state of agitation one would be in when finding a bee inside one’s bonnet. It comes from the earlier expression ‘to have bees in one’s head’, which had much the same meaning.
Definition: Preoccupied or obsessed with an idea.
One citation of ‘bee in his bonnet’ is found in the Reverend Philip Doddridge’s Letters, 1790:
“I suppose you have heard of Mr. Coward’s pranks. He has, as the Scotch call it, a Bee in his Bonnet.”
Not exactly what I supposed growing up but thanks to our relatives across the pond (http://www.phrases.org.uk/index.html), we can put the proper definition on it!
ED
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ED