Discussion » Questions » Jobs » At your workplace, are the words “body” or “bodies” ever used in reference to quantities of people?
Randy D

At your workplace, are the words “body” or “bodies” ever used in reference to quantities of people?

For instance, I have a military background, so I am accustomed in that setting to expressions such as, “Get me six bodies to unload those supplies at the headquarters building” or “This transport ship can accommodate 475 bodies in its berthing spaces”.  However, outside of that setting, there are very few situations where it seems to only refer to deceased people.

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Posted - May 9, 2020
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Responses


  • 10026
    As part of a specific word?  i.e. everybody?  Or just body/bodies in general?

    Yes. Yes. Not generally.

    In the bodies of these sentences I will give you some examples.

    "Everybody stood and gazed at the yard." Many people who were attending the party were admiring the landscaping job.
     
    "You should have seen her!  Her body went left and the flowers went right!"  When I slipped on the hill and dropped some freshly-cut flowers.

    "There are going to be bodies, everywhere!"  This comment is said in front of almost any function/party they, the owners, are hosting.

    I've been known to hear reference to a couple of "hot bods" on occasion, as well.  Does that count?

    Normally when I talk about bodies, it's on the adultMug side and not in my work place.

    I do talk about bodies of water, the ocean, those plants desperately need some water, at my job :) more often than human body counts.


    This post was edited by Merlin at May 9, 2020 9:00 AM MDT
      May 9, 2020 12:18 AM MDT
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  • 52954

     No, not as part of somebody or anybody or everybody. 
    ~
      May 9, 2020 12:22 AM MDT
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  • 10026
    Gotcha! 
    In all my lines of work, when I refer to bodies, they are hot not cold.
    ;) :)
      May 9, 2020 12:34 AM MDT
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  • 14795
    Qualititties are more important in my line of work more so then Quantatitties I'm told and have two observe ...:)D 
      May 9, 2020 1:13 AM MDT
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  • 44232
    In the Navy a group of sailors was called ...swingin' dicks...' Perhaps you used that phrase in the Corps.
      May 9, 2020 8:41 AM MDT
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  • 10026
    Am I to gather this means when they are in Corpse form they are called.... stiff dicks?... This post was edited by Merlin at May 9, 2020 9:00 AM MDT
      May 9, 2020 8:54 AM MDT
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  • 19942
    That may have been before females were allowed to serve.  When we have Fleet Week in NY in May, there are always a lot of sailors walking around in groups.  I always think of them as a gaggle of swabbies. :)  They are always welcome - as are any military groups - in my city.  We love seeing all those fresh faces in their white uniforms.  
      May 9, 2020 9:06 AM MDT
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  • 44232
    You are correct. We can't even have our own slang. There is no equivalent for female sailors. Too bad there is no Fleet Week this year. Hope you like this.

      May 10, 2020 5:00 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    My favorite Fleet Week was several years ago when a sailor I was corresponding with and to whom I was sending care packages came into New York and I got a chance to meet him in person.  
      May 10, 2020 5:07 PM MDT
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  • 44232
    That is awesome. Was he a gentleman? 
      May 10, 2020 5:10 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    He absolutely was.  :)
      May 10, 2020 5:12 PM MDT
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  • 44232
    He must have been an officer.
      May 10, 2020 5:13 PM MDT
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  • 19942
    LOL ... He was a Chaplain's Assistant and married, but we did have dinner and went to a few places in the City and it was a wonderful weekend.  We still keep in touch although he's out of the Navy now.  
      May 10, 2020 5:16 PM MDT
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  • 1893
    Randy we use the term "bodies" a lot.  eg How many bodies do we need for this study? 

    The research world  in a Multinational company is unique.  Everyone understands the term bodies, no matter what your native tongue is.  We only use people in reference to positioning and expected impact.
      May 10, 2020 4:54 PM MDT
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  • 44232
    What is wrong with the term 'human units'?
      May 10, 2020 5:12 PM MDT
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  • 1893
    Does not work well in a Multilingual Environments
      May 11, 2020 7:15 AM MDT
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  • 44232
    Other languages have their equivalents. 
      May 11, 2020 8:54 AM MDT
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  • 1893
    English is the default, Business English not American English
      May 14, 2020 7:53 AM MDT
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