bowels

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "bowels" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used in the context of the organs of the digestive system, to describe either the intestines or the inner parts of someone or something. For example: "The bowels of the cave were dark and musty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I picture it now, in the bowels of some Scottish estate perhaps, moth-eaten and with its glass eyes staring madly.

The Guardian

Risks of rectal feeding and rehydration include damage to the rectum and colon, triggering bowels to empty, food rotting inside the recipient's digestive tract, and an inflamed or prolapsed rectum from carless insertion of the feeding tube.

The Guardian

Who was that all-seeing wise man dispensing advice to Bran and co from the bowels of his heart tree?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

You insist on me bringing your shopping deep into the bowels of your home, as opposed to dumping it on the doorstep.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For nearly 13 minutes in the bowels of the main stand yesterday, Ponting was the Spirit of Cricket itself, a monument to patience, candour and affability, as he built a public relations innings of which Nelson Mandela would be proud.

The Guardian - Sport

They must have very strong bladders and steel bowels.

The Guardian - Opinion

We never saw Vince Grella get fellated by a dog, we never watched TV footage of Luke Wilkshire wandering the streets of Perth high and shirtless with a SUCH IS LIFE tattoo displayed across his stomach, we never read of Mark Viduka emptying his bowels in a hotel hallway – and we can probably all be pretty grateful for that.

The Guardian - Sport

One such is the municipal refuse collection: usually once a week, your rubbish bags or the contents of your bin disappear into the bowels of a special lorry and are carted away to the local tip.To economists, this ceremony is peculiar, because in most places it is free.

The Economist

His predecessor in this post languished in the bowels of North Block, a colonial edifice in Delhi.

The Economist

Ideally it would suspend all enrichment activity at its Fordow facility, which is buried deep in the bowels of a mountain (and thus hard to attack) and delay commissioning the Arak nuclear reactor, due to come online next year, which could give the regime an alternative plutonium route to a bomb.

The Economist

The second voice is a postman who remembers his first awkward night with a woman who has denied herself love; while the third is a taxi driver who, to survive the massacre, escapes to the very bowels of the island.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bowels" in a metaphorical sense, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to the innermost part of something or the concept of something. This will avoid confusion with its literal meaning.

Common error

While "bowels" is acceptable in various contexts, avoid using it excessively in formal or professional writing. Opt for more precise or sophisticated terms like "intestines" or "inner workings" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bowels" is as a noun. It refers either to the intestines or, metaphorically, to the deepest or innermost part of something. Ludwig examples confirm its use in both anatomical and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "bowels" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun. Ludwig AI indicates its suitability for written English. It primarily refers to the intestines or, metaphorically, the innermost part of something. While versatile, its formality varies depending on context, ranging from neutral in news to informal in colloquial use. To avoid ambiguity, ensure clarity when using it metaphorically. Consider more formal alternatives like "intestines" or "inner workings" in professional contexts. Frequent use is found in "News & Media" and "Encyclopedias", according to Ludwig, signifying its widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intestines

Replaces "bowels" with a more specific anatomical term.

guts

Offers a more informal and colloquial synonym for "bowels".

entrails

Provides a more technical and somewhat archaic term.

viscera

A formal and scientific term referring to the internal organs.

inner workings

Shifts the meaning towards the functional aspect of internal parts.

depths

Emphasizes the innermost or deepest parts of something, often metaphorical.

core

Refers to the central or essential part of something.

heart

Metaphorically represents the central or vital part.

innermost recesses

Highlights the hidden and remote parts.

deep interior

Focuses on the internal space and its depth.

FAQs

How to use "bowels" in a sentence?

"Bowels" can refer to the intestines, as in "He had a problem with his bowels", or the innermost parts of something, such as "The treasure was hidden in the bowels of the earth".

What can I say instead of "bowels" when referring to intestines?

You can use alternatives like "intestines", "guts", or "entrails" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "bowels" and "insides"?

"Bowels" specifically refers to the intestines or the deepest parts of something, while "insides" is a more general term for internal parts.

When is it appropriate to use "bowels" in a metaphorical sense?

It is appropriate to use "bowels" metaphorically to describe the deepest or innermost part of something, such as "the bowels of the earth" or "the bowels of the organization".