living soul

a living soul

A person (who is alive). (Often used in the negative to mean "nobody.") Each living soul one meets is a chance to gain a new perspective on life. Our engagement is a complete secret, so don't tell another living soul, OK?
See also: living, soul
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

living soul

A person. For example, Every living soul in this town has a stake in the decision to ban smoking, or The place was empty-not a living soul to be found. [First half of 1600s]
See also: living, soul
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • a living soul
  • not a living soul
  • every living soul
  • soul
  • in living memory
  • in/within living memory
  • matter of opinion
  • matter of opinion, a
  • far cry
  • far cry from, a
References in classic literature
There isn't, on earth, a living soul to care if I die," he added, drawing his breath hard, and speaking with a great effort,--"I shall be kicked out and buried like a dog, and nobody'll think of it a day after,--only my poor wife!
He never gave it away; he never even showed it to any living soul. Some said he was afraid of its getting him into a difficulty with the military authorities; others (very ignorant indeed of the real nature of the man) said he was afraid, if he showed it, of its costing him his life.
"He's the only living soul I can get at who was connected with Holmescroft," I said.
The living soul demands life, the soul won't obey the rules of mechanics, the soul is an object of suspicion, the soul is retrograde!
Then these phenomena seemed to blend in one as Stephanie's eyes cast forth a celestial ray, the flame of a living soul. She lived, she thought!
Where better could we leave him than at the altar before which he had first caught a glimpse of the glory of his birthright, and felt the drawing of the bond which links all living souls together in one brotherhood--at the grave beneath the altar of him who had opened his eyes to see that glory, and softened his heart till it could feel that bond?
I can't bear that her name should be forgotten by all living souls. And now nobody remembers lost Margaret but me."
Then he told us anecdotes of how he had gone across the Channel when it was so rough that the passengers had to be tied into their berths, and he and the captain were the only two living souls on board who were not ill.
Yasin said: "What is the point in life if you cannot help another human being or another living soul? I personally love pets.
YOU can now start the process of switching your mobile service with a text, without having to speak to an actual living soul.
YOU can now start the process of switching your mobile service with text, without having to speak to an actual living soul.
Some of these people never move from outside of their homes, they can go days, weeks or even months without seeing or speaking to another living soul. The TV is their company, it is their friend and their link to the outside world!
Even if many of the players now take a break, you can bet that every living soul at Sabener Strasse will have a view about how Sane can improve the Bundesliga champions for as long as the uncertainty continues.
In accepting the nomination, Sims declares he did not ask a living soul to vote for him, nor does he expect to lose a single hour from his print shop to further his own candidacy.
Synopsis: After a publicly humiliating divorce, best-selling author Emma Volant runs away to hide in the seaside English village of Amberwick, where she doesn't know another living soul. She wants nothing more than to surrender to her broken heart in private.