noun phrases - "In person" equivalent for inanimate objects


This is much easier to explain by example. So you might hear someone say this photo of her is ok, but she looks much better in person.


I am looking for the equivalent of "in person" that applies to things, e.g.,



A photo of the house is on the museum's homepage, but it is more impressive [in person].



There doesn't seem to be a concise, elegant way to say this, though it seems there should be, perhaps a latin phrase like in corpore (that's not it).



Answer



I can't find a reference to back this up, but I would sometimes use the phrase "in person" for an object because in order to experience it that way you have to personally go see it. Since there is at least one person present it makes sense to me even if it might not be 100% technically correct.


I would not use it when there is no other person present:



The museum is more impressive in person (i.e. when you visit, it's impressive).


The curator of the museum was there in person (this works even if he's alone).


*The Mona Lisa was there in person (this doesn't work because no people are there).



So, depending on your needs, "in person" gets you half-way there.


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