B.O.

Meanings

1. 1abbreviationuncountableinformal

   The unpleasant smell of a person's sweaty body, short for body odor.

   Grammar: No article: he has B.O., not a B.O.

   Patterns

   • have B.O.

   The gym locker room smelled strongly of B.O. after the match.

   He was embarrassed when a classmate told him he had B.O.

   A good deodorant can keep B.O. under control during summer.

2. 2abbreviationinformalbusiness

   A short form for box office, mostly seen in news about film or theater earnings.

   Grammar: Usually written BO or B.O. in trade headlines: BO figures.

   The film had a huge opening weekend at the B.O.

   Analysts predict weak B.O. for the sequel.

   The theater's B.O. numbers rose after the holiday.

Common combinations

smell of B.O.

The crowded bus had a faint smell of B.O.

have B.O.

Nobody wants to tell a friend that he has B.O.

cure B.O.

Showering daily helps cure B.O.

suffer from B.O.

Some people suffer from B.O. even after showering.

Synonyms and how they differ

body odor

Body odor is the full, more neutral term that works in formal or medical contexts.

sweat

Sweat is the moisture itself, while B.O. is the bad smell that results.

stench

Stench is stronger and harsher, and can apply to any bad smell.

Word family

odor noun

a smell, often an unpleasant one

odorous adjective

having a smell

deodorant noun

a product that prevents body smells

odorless adjective

having no smell

Commonly confused: B.O. or BO (box office)?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “B.O.”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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