person (redirected from in own person)

be the last person (to do something)

to be the most unlikely person of whom one could think in a particular situation; to be the most unlikely person to do something. (Also literal.) Mary is the last person you should ask to chair the meeting—she's so shy.

See also: last

Better keep still about it. and Someone had better keep still about it.; Better keep quiet about it.; Someone better keep quiet about it.

A particular person ought not to tell about or discuss something. (The someone can stand for any person's name, any pronoun, or even the word someone meaning "you-know-who." If there is no Someone had, the phrase is a mild admonition to keep quiet about something.) Mary: I saw you with Bill last night. Jane: You'd better keep quiet about it. Jane: Tom found out what you're giving Sally for her birthday. Bill: He had better keep quiet about it!

See also: better, keep, still

day person

a person who prefers to be active during the daytime. (Compare this with a night person.) l am strictly a day person. Have to be in bed early.

See also: day

feel like a new person

Fig. to feel refreshed and renewed, especially after getting well or getting dressed up. I bought a new suit, and now I feel like a new person. Bob felt like a new person when he got out of the hospital.

See also: feel, like, new

flit from person to person

Fig. to move quickly from person to person or thing to thing. (See also flit from something to something else.) Tom flitted quickly from person to person, handing out snacks and beverages. The singer flitted from table to table, working the crowd for tips.

See also: flit

Give my best to someone and All the best to someone.

Please convey my good wishes to a particular person. (The someone can be a person's name or a pronoun. See also Say hello to someone (for me).) Alice: Good-bye, Fred. Give my best to your mother. Fred: Sure, Alice. Good-bye. Tom: See you, Bob. Bob: Give my best to Jane. Tom: I sure will. Bye. Bill: Bye, Rachel. All the best to your family. Rachel: Thanks. Bye.

See also: best, give

in person

[of someone] actually physically present in a place rather than appearing in a film, on a television or computer screen, on a telephone, or through a radio broadcast. All the famous movie stars were there in person. You must appear in our office in person to collect the money that is due to you.

night person

Fig. someone who is more alert and active at night than in the daytime. (Compare this with a day person.) I'm really not efficient until after supper. I am the quintessential night person.

See also: night

on one's person

[of something] carried with one. Always carry identification on your person. I'm sorry, I don't have any money on my person.

one thing or person after another

a series of things or people that seems without limit. It's just one problem after another. One customer after another has been buying shoes today!

See also: after, another, one, thing

person of color

a person of an African, Asian, or Native American race. (The plural is people of color.) The apartment manager clearly discriminated against people of color. He would only rent to whites. As a person of color, I felt threatened by the racist jokes that my coworker told.

See also: color

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a girl/man/person Friday

a person who does many different types of usually not very interesting work in an office

Usage notes: Man Friday is the name of the servant in the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

The ad said, 'Person Friday required for general office duties'.

See also: girl

about/on your person  (formal)

if you have something about your person, you are carrying it with you, often hidden in your clothing She had a small tape recorder concealed about her person.

See a girl Friday, the man in the street

be your own man/woman/person

to behave in the way that you want and to not let other people influence you Despite being the daughter of two Hollywood stars, she's very much her own woman with her own acting style.

See also: man

the man/woman/person in the street

a typical, ordinary person Do the plans for celebrating the millennium take into account the views of the man in the street?

See also: man, street

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your own person (spoken)

not very much influenced by other people Scott is his own person, and he does what he wants to do.

Usage notes: also used with man or woman instead of person: Ben remains refreshingly his own man. Beth was her own woman, even back in high school.

Related vocabulary: do your own thing

in person

physically Though they chatted online, they'd never met in person. The actor looks even shorter in person than he does on the screen.

on your person (slightly formal)

with you Anderson was carrying $10,000 in cash on his person at the time.