body shop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, leaning informal in the repair sense; Brand-specific in the retail sense.
Quick answer
What does “body shop” mean?
A business establishment where automobiles are repaired, particularly their bodywork (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A business establishment where automobiles are repaired, particularly their bodywork (e.g., after a collision).
A place specializing in cosmetic and personal care products (notably the retail chain The Body Shop). Also used informally to refer to a morgue or funeral home where bodies are prepared.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both UK and US English, the term primarily refers to an auto repair garage. The brand 'The Body Shop' is equally recognized. The informal use for a morgue is slightly more common in American crime fiction/drama.
Connotations
Auto repair: neutral/technical. Retail brand: connotations of natural ingredients, ethical sourcing, environmentalism. Informal/morgue: dark, humorous, or crime-related.
Frequency
The auto repair sense is frequent in both varieties. The brand reference is extremely common globally.
Grammar
How to Use “body shop” in a Sentence
[Vehicle] is at/in the body shop.[Owner] took [vehicle] to a body shop.The Body Shop sells [product].They work at a body shop.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “body shop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The car needs body shopping after that bump.
- (Very rare as a verb)
American English
- We'll have to body-shop it before we can sell it.
- (Very rare as a verb)
adjective
British English
- He's a body-shop technician.
- A body-shop estimate.
American English
- She got a body-shop quote.
- Body-shop repairs are expensive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a sector of the automotive services industry.
Academic
Rare; might appear in studies of retail branding or automotive trade economics.
Everyday
Common when discussing car accidents, insurance, or shopping for cosmetics.
Technical
Specific in automotive engineering/repair manuals.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “body shop”
- Using 'body shop' to mean a gym or fitness centre. Confusing it with 'bodyshop' as one word (sometimes used for the brand).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the most common meaning is auto repair, it is also the name of a major cosmetics retailer ('The Body Shop'). Very informally, it can refer to a morgue.
A 'garage' is a general term for a place where cars are repaired or serviced. A 'body shop' is a specific type of garage that specializes in repairing the car's external body (panels, paint, frames) after collisions.
Only when referring specifically to the brand 'The Body Shop'. When talking about a car repair place, it is not capitalized (e.g., 'I took my car to a body shop').
It is a standard, neutral term in the automotive industry. It is neither highly formal nor slang. In official documents, terms like 'collision repair centre' might be used, but 'body shop' is universally understood.
A business establishment where automobiles are repaired, particularly their bodywork (e.
Body shop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdi ʃɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdi ʃɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(informal) Sent to the body shop: Referring to a car needing major body repair.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'body' as a car's body, not a human body, being fixed in a 'shop'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CAR IS A BODY (hence 'bodywork', 'body shop').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'body shop' MOST LIKELY refer to a morgue?