in levenden lijve

Dutch

Alternative forms

• in levende lijve (proscribed)
• in levend lijf (rare)

Etymology

Literally: “in living body”, with a fossilized dative.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn ˈleːvəndə(n) ˈlɛi̯və/

• Audio:

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

in levenden lijve

1. (idiomatic) in the flesh, in person

   Ik heb haar nog nooit in levenden lijve ontmoet.

   I've never met her in person.

2. (dated) alive

   Toen hij na twintig jaar terugkwam, was zijn grootvader nog in levenden lijve.

   When he came back after twenty years, his grandfather was still alive.