a body
A person, or "one," often meaning yourself without saying I.
Updated September 21, 2026
a body pronunciation
/uh BOD-ee/
Meaning
Used like "someone" or the formal word "one." Speakers often mean themselves in a soft, general way. "A body can't get a minute's peace" is really about the person talking. It is not about a corpse.
How folks use it
- “A body can't work all day without resting.”
- “Why can't you leave a body alone?”
Origin and etymology
Comes from Scots and Ulster speech, where "body" meant a person. Scotch-Irish settlers carried it into Appalachia and the Midland South. You can hear the same sense in the old song line about meeting a body coming through the rye.
Frequently asked questions
Does "a body" mean a dead body?
No. In this talk it means a living person, or "one."