The phrase “in the flesh” means being physically present with someone or something. It is often used when meeting someone for the first time or seeing a celebrity in person. Idioms like this are useful for informal situations and have expanded beyond their literal meaning.
A person who sees someone or something “in the flesh” is actually in the physical presence of that person or thing. This phrase is often used in reference to someone a person may have heard of but now finally has the chance to meet. It can also be used when someone has only seen someone else on various forms of media but is now seeing them in person. The phrase gets its meaning from the fact that someone seeing someone else “in the flesh” could conceivably touch their flesh.
There are some circumstances that may require a more familiar than formal way of speaking. When these occasions arise, it’s a good idea for speakers to use idioms. Idioms may have accepted meanings that are not quite like what one might expect their meanings to be based on the definitions of the words they contain. Such phrases are often recognized by other members of the culture who know them. A common idiomatic expression is the phrase “in the flesh.”
When someone meets someone else or sees something for the first time, that’s often an occasion to say this phrase. There may be times in a person’s life when he is aware of someone else but hasn’t had a chance to meet them yet. For example, someone might say, “I’ve heard a lot about you, but it’s nice to finally meet in person.”
This phrase is also useful when someone has the chance to see or meet a famous person for the first time. It’s not uncommon for people to get used to seeing someone on television or in the movies without ever seeing them in real life. When this actually occurs, it can be a memorable experience and may justify the use of this idiom. For example, consider the statement: “I’ve always loved her movies so much, so it was a real thrill to see her in the flesh.”
When someone actually sees a person in real life instead of hearing about them or seeing them on a screen, the difference is that the person might actually be able to touch that person’s flesh. This fact is what gives meaning to this phrase “in the flesh.” It is typical of idioms in that its literal meaning has expanded into how the sentence is actually used.
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