in person

Idioms  

1. Also, in the flesh. In one's physical presence, as in He applied for the job in person, or I couldn't believe it, but there she was, in the flesh. The first expression dates from the mid-1500s. The variant, from the 1300s, was long used to allude to the bodily resurrection of Jesus, but later acquired its looser meaning. Charles Dickens has it in Our Mutual Friend (1865): “The minutes passing on, and no Mrs. W. in the flesh appearing.”

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Example Sentences

Starmer will attend the Paris event in person, while most other countries will join via videoconference.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

It would mean deleting your delivery apps, making phone calls to other humans, leaving the house and going shopping in person.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

But there are important things to consider before deciding on a car without actually seeing it in person, especially if you’re hunting for a used car on a budget.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Aysha says the centre is receiving numerous calls and in person visits from worried parents.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“So…did you talk to my mom in person, then? Was she still at the hospital?”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• candidly
• honestly
• openly
• personally