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# not a people person

phrase (noun phrase used after «be»: I'm not a people person, he's not a people person)

«not a people person» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism) does not like being with people; is unfriendly, shy or rude to others.
2. (neutral) prefers to work alone or with things rather than with people.

### In the lessons

People say it about themselves to explain shyness or bad temper in a softer way, and about others in job reviews or gossip to mean they are rude or difficult. Everyday register, all English-speaking countries.

### Examples

- I'm not a people person — I'd rather stay home with a book.
- The new manager is not exactly a people person.
- Let's just say the receptionist is not a people person.
- He's not a people person, so he works nights in the lab.
- «Not a people person» — that's a nice way of saying he's grumpy.
- My cat is not a people person.

### Note

It can be an honest description of shyness or a hidden way of saying «rude». The opposite is «a people person» (someone good with people). Plain words: unfriendly, shy, rude, antisocial.