# or somebody

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/or-somebody
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this after naming a person to show you are not 100% sure if it was them or someone else.

## Examples

- I think John or somebody left this bag here.
- I saw Sarah or somebody walking into the library, but I was too far away to be certain.
- The witness claimed that the manager or somebody with similar authority had authorized the change, though he could not confirm the identity of the person.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.