What does the phrase/descriptor "busybody" mean to you?

[TR]

I've now heard two separate & unrelated people use it in a very different way than I've never heard it used. So I'm curious if this is a rEgIoNaL thing.

ETA: the second option is a "restless energy, always go go go, can't sit still" kind of personality.

[beerlover]

Someone who is always up in, or knows, everyone’s business.

[HoneySpider]

Someone that is in everyone's business

[TR]

Dec 1, 2021 17:59:26 GMT -5 mofongo said:

I voted nosy, but I could see them moving around a lot in a work setting, for example. Like, OH what are you saying over there? That kind of behavior, lol. So kind of both, but more nosy.

I can't edit the poll, but I mean more like someone who is restless and has a lot of go, go, go energy.

[lucybrown]

I’ve heard it used both ways. Either nosy or doesn’t sit still.

[mcmel]

I could see it either way depending on who they’re talking about.

[elefun]

Only for nosy

[gummybear]

A busy body is a nosy gossip.
A busy bee never stops moving.

[tacokick]

A nosy/meddling/prying person. That’s the actual, correct definition. I have never heard of it the other way.


Busy body to mean someone literally moving sounds like a misunderstanding a 4 or 5 year old would make. When I taught that age we talked a lot about being busy and moving our bodies.

[VillainV]

I can’t see the poll, but a “busybody” is someone who can’t mind their own business and meddles in other people’s business. FWIW, Dictionary.com agrees with me.

I’ve heard kids who can’t sit still referred to as “busy” but I’ve never heard that descriptor used for an adult.

[goldengirlz]

Dec 1, 2021 18:17:25 GMT -5 gummybear said:

A busy body is a nosy gossip.
A busy bee never stops moving.

This is exactly what I was going to say. It sounds like this might be one of those expressions that people tend to get wrong like “for all intents and purposes.” (There’s probably a better example than that one but my brain is fried today.)

[fivechickens]

Huh.

I have heard it used both ways and relate it both ways to the person if I know them (like if I know the person is nosy or if they are constantly doing something).

[gummybear]

Dec 1, 2021 18:35:25 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Dec 1, 2021 18:17:25 GMT -5 gummybear said:

A busy body is a nosy gossip.
A busy bee never stops moving.

This is exactly what I was going to say. It sounds like this might be one of those expressions that people tend to get wrong like “for all intents and purposes.” (There’s probably a better example than that one but my brain is fried today.)

Yes! Also see the use of notorious and infamous, both of which are negative, yet routinely used as a positive adjective, on par with iconic.

[Leeham Rimes]

I've never heard the term 'busybody' in any way other than a negative, 'in everyone's business when you shouldn't be" way. It's definitely not a positive term.

[Jalapeñomel]

Nosy

[stemmie]

I've always heard it used to describe someone who is actively nosy.

[expectantsteelerfan]

'Round here we call them 'nebby.'

[TR]

Ok. I've always and only ever heard it used for someone who is up in everyone's business. But one of H's friends used it to describe himself as someone who is always moving, doing things, etc. And then I heard H use it once the same way. They went to college together so I don't know if one rubbed off on the other (friend is from Nebraska, H from Florida). And I thought it was weird, but whatever.

But then yesterday, I saw signed_blake (or one of her followers in a comment?) use it that way and it made me think, "Wait a minute, just how many people are using it this way?!"

[So_Fetch]

I feel like the always moving being busy person is a busy bee not a busybody.

[lust2hart]

Your H is wrong about so many things, LOL!

[TR]

Dec 2, 2021 12:26:42 GMT -5 lust2hart said:

Your H is wrong about so many things, LOL!

I'm going to print this and hang it in my office.

[hbomdiggity]

I can’t see poll, but I’m guessing I would pick your second option. I don’t associate it with being nosy.

My H calls me a busy body and he def means that I don’t sit still at home. There is always an errand, laundry, dishes, etc to be done. Meanwhile, he holds the couch down.

[thejen626]

This reminds me of when my husband said “why are you so frumpy today?” And I was like “WTF?”

He thought frumpy was the same meaning as grumpy. I set him straight lol. I might be grumpy but I have never been and will never be frumpy!!

[carmenere]

Dec 2, 2021 20:44:01 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

This reminds me of when my husband said “why are you so frumpy today?” And I was like “WTF?”

He thought frumpy was the same meaning as grumpy. I set him straight lol. I might be grumpy but I have never been and will never be frumpy!!

OMG 😂 My husband has a had a few of those funny word misunderstandings but I can’t remember any right now.