personallyper‧son‧al‧ly /ˈpɜːsənəli $ ˈpɜːr-/ ●●● S2 adverb 
Personally, I don’t think much of the idea. I personally think it’s too cold to go out.2if you do something personally, you do it yourself rather than getting someone else to do it SYN in person: The managing director wrote personally to thank me. All important work is personally approved by him. I’ll see to it personally.3used to show that one particular person is involved, rather than a group of people: I’m holding you personally responsible for this mess! She clearly blamed me personally for the difficulties she’d been having.4take something personally to get upset by the things other people say or do, because you think that their remarks or behaviour are directed at you in particular: Don’t take it personally; she’s rude to everyone.5as a friend, or as someone you have met: I don’t know her personally, but I like her work.6in a way that criticizes someone’s character or appearance: Members of the Senate rarely attack each other personally.7in relation to someone’s private life, rather than to their work, business, or official duties: She had a lasting impact on his life both personally and professionally.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Personally speaking, I think it's a great name for a cigarette.
- Personally, I don't care how it gets done, as long as it's done quickly.
- Personally, I don't care how you do it.
- Personally, I think it's a crazy idea.
- I don't know him personally, but I've heard a lot about him.
- I was personally asked by the governor to run for office.
- It's best to write about things you have experienced personally.
- Most of our customers like French wine, though I personally prefer Californian.
- The Commander in Chief visited the island personally, and took steps toward strengthening the defense facilities and fortification.
- The President wrote to us personally to thank us for our hard work.
- Everyone has the right to say no, even your subordinate, so don't take it personally.
- He personally oversaw and, if necessary, modified the agenda for meetings.
- He had personally recruited the antique dealer.
- I intend to experiment with it personally.
- Please encourage class members to lobby their local councils about cuts in classes, either personally or by petition.
- Why did his cousin sound so personally affronted?
- With Zenlike calm, they absorb the hostility often leveled at them personally, as representatives of the technological elite.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you do something yourself
if you do something yourself , no-one else does it for you: · I made these curtains myself.· Why can't your boyfriend cook lunch himself?· "Could you pass me that book?" "Get it yourself!"
if an important person does something personally , they do it, although you would normally expect someone else to do it for them: · The President wrote to us personally to thank us for our hard work.· The Commander in Chief visited the island personally, and took steps toward strengthening the defense facilities and fortification.
if you do something in person , you do it by going somewhere yourself, rather than by asking someone else to do it: · My letters were all returned to me, so I decided to go around to her house in person.· The prince was renowned for his bravery, and chose to lead his troops in person.
if you deliver a letter, parcel etc by hand , you deliver it yourself instead of posting it: · The letter had been delivered by hand, and was addressed to Mrs Zippie Isaacs.
when you meet or talk to someone directly if you meet or talk to someone personally or in person , you do it by going somewhere yourself, instead of writing, telephoning, or asking someone else to do it: · We thought we'd pay you a visit, as we would like to thank you personally for all your help.· If this is your first passport, you must apply in person, bringing with you proof of U.S. citizenship.· The author of the book had not personally met with the publishers before its publication.
if you meet or talk to someone face to face , you are in the same place as them and looking directly at them: · The senator cannot meet every voter face to face, but he is certainly doing his best.come face to face with (=meet someone personally, especially when you do not want to): · Victims who go to court dread coming face to face with their attacker again.· I stuck my head out of my tent, and came face to face with a cow.
if you say something to somebody's face , especially something unkind or critical, you say it directly to them, instead of to other people: say something to somebody's face: · If she doesn't like my work, I wish she'd say so to my face.tell somebody (something) to their face: · I didn't love him anymore, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him to his face.
informal if you meet or see someone in the flesh , you are in the same place as them, rather than seeing them on television or in a film - use this especially about well-known people: · I saw her outside the TV studios - she looks much older in the flesh.· Michael Jordan was my hero, and meeting him in the flesh was a real thrill.
something that you do or experience yourself use this when describing something that you do, learn, or experience yourself: · The President made a personal appeal to the terrorists.· I intend to take personal responsibility for seeing that the documents reach you in time.personal experience: · The novel is based on the author's own personal experience.personal contact (=when you meet and deal with people yourself directly): · I liked talking to people and solving problems, but as you get promoted within a firm you lose that personal contact.
done or learned yourself, without help from anyone else, or information from anywhere else: · From 1914 to 1918 the British people had their first direct experience of war from the air.direct contact: · We have had no direct contact with any government officials.
: first-hand information/experience/account etc information etc that is the result of actually seeing something or experiencing something, rather than the result of reading about it or hearing about it: · Our new chef worked in Paris for many years, so he has first- hand knowledge of French cooking.· Clara knew from first-hand experience that living in a foreign country would be difficult.· This letter remains the only first-hand account of life on the island in the 17th century.
experienced or done through someone else, not personally if you hear about something second-hand , you hear about it from another person or by reading about it, for example in a newspaper: · I was abroad at the time, so I got the news second-hand.· We only learnt about their divorce second-hand from some mutual friends.
use this when describing something that you do not do, learn, or experience yourself, but through someone else: · Since he left his wife Rick has only had indirect contact with his children.
: vicarious pleasure/satisfaction/excitement etc pleasure etc experienced by watching or reading about someone else doing something, rather than by doing it yourself: · Mothers often get some vicarious pleasure from their children's success.· Many people enjoyed the vicarious thrill of military victory.
to feel offended · She'll be offended if you don't say thank you for her help.offended by · He's always offended by jokes aimed at Irish people.offended that · He felt offended that she didn't want to go out with him.deeply offended · Some people may find rude jokes funny, but others may be deeply offended.
very angry and upset, for example because someone has done something that shows they have little respect for you or your abilities: · Molly would be insulted if we didn't go and see her while we were in town.insulted by: · Please don't be insulted by anything I say.insulted that: · He felt insulted that they had not told him about the party.deeply insulted: · We must eat as much as possible, or she will be deeply insulted.
offended, especially because someone has not included you in their plans: · The guest list was very short, so no-one felt slighted because they hadn't been invited.
offended and surprised, especially because you feel that you have not been treated fairly: · When she said I was interfering, I was a bit put out.put out about: · She was rather put out about being described as plain.put out by: · The minister was not put out by the note of impatience in Cohen's voice.
to feel offended by something someone says or does, especially something that does not seem serious to other people: · Don't mention her hairstyle. She'll probably take offence.· Please don't take offence, but I would prefer you not to swear in front of the children.take offence at: · He didn't seem to take offence at my lack of enthusiasm for his idea.be quick to take offence: · He described her as a woman who is temperamental and quick to take offence.
to feel offended by something, especially a criticism, even though it was not aimed at one particular person: · Anna took it personally when the boss said some people were not working hard enough.· This is a general criticism, so I hope none of you will take it personally.· I didn't take his rebuff too personally, since I was used to his habit of being rude to his juniors.
to be offended by something someone says or does when it was not intended to offend you and you have understood it in the wrong way: · Daniel sat in silence, afraid whatever he said would be taken the wrong way.· Don't take this the wrong way, but your driving has really improved.
formal to feel offended by something someone says, and to make it clear that you feel this way: · I took exception to what he said about my family.· Paul took exception to her advice, which he said undermined his self-esteem.take great exception to something: · I take great exception to the suggestion that I neglected my responsibilities.
what you say when giving your opinion spoken say this when giving your opinion. I believe is more formal than I think: I think/believe (that): · I think it's a great idea.· I believe that we can do better than this.
use this especially in formal contexts: · In my opinion, most people learn best by doing, not by sitting in a classroom and reading about it.· She is, in my opinion, one of the foremost artists of our time.
especially spoken use this especially when you do not care if other people do not agree with your opinion: · He says he tried hard to make the relationship work, but it wasn't hard enough as far as I'm concerned.· I will not go on a plane. As far as I'm concerned, they're just accidents waiting to happen.
spoken say this especially when you are giving your opinion about a particular problem: · If you ask me, getting rid of the death tax is the best thing they could do.· All this stuff about poisons in the water supply is a load of hogwash, if you ask me.
spoken say this when giving your opinion: · To me, the system seemed too complicated for most people. · They call Ned Kelly a criminal, but to me he will always be a hero.
say this when giving your opinion: · As I see it, there are two alternatives. We can either stay with your parents or rent a place.· The way I see it, if you don't borrow money now, you'll lose the opportunity to expand the business.
spoken say this to emphasize that something is your opinion: · Personally, I think it's a crazy idea.· Personally, I don't care how it gets done, as long as it's done quickly.personally speaking: · Personally speaking, I think it's a great name for a cigarette.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I’m holding you personally responsible for this mess! I don’t know her personally, but I like her work.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES If anything happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible. I was joking, but he took me seriously. Ben took the news very badly.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
I’m holding you personally responsible for this mess! I don’t know her personally, but I like her work. If anything happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.· Are there any hair colouring products you can personally recommend?
· Speaking personally, yes, this is a worry.
I was joking, but he took me seriously. Ben took the news very badly.· However, the members will be personally liable to the company to the full extent for the debts of the company.· The initiative would make corporate officers and directors personally liable to pay court-ordered judgments.· As Turbosoft were not a limited liability company, the proprietors are personally liable for the losses and could be made bankrupt.· Here, as the name suggests, the members remain personally liable to meet the obligations of the company.· In such circumstances councillors and officials can be sanctioned and made personally liable for misappropriated funds.· Directors of limited companies are not personally liable for their companies' debts unless you get a guarantee from them.· The mortgage made Mrs. Jones personally liable, as guarantor, to pay the £1,000.· As agent for the owner he was not personally liable under the Act.
· We are, each of us, personally responsible for damaging our environment.· Most systems have an executive cabinet, with each member directly and personally responsible for some major area of administration.· She would have been held personally responsible and would almost certainly have fallen from office.· Did this make me personally responsible for more deaths?· Like the sole trader, the partners are personally responsible for paying off any debts the shop may incur.· Now I was not personally responsible for that.· He is held personally responsible for complying with the many rules and regulations that govern its use.
VERB· They can become personally involved in any of three ways.
· I would like you, please, to take back and deliver personally a little present from me to cheer her up.· Risking his displeasure, Lydia says she will personally deliver them to his wife after the marriage.
· I personally felt that the characters were very stereo-typed and extremely predictable.· Make every person feel personally significant. 2.· I personally feel very drawn to the character of George, although he has his flaws.· Female speaker I personally feel very disappointed with the sentence.· By not feeling personally hurt or professionally inadequate when matters get worse despite one's best efforts.· With Hurley's indifference to security, Coleman felt personally at risk.· I personally feel that this decline in confidence is both healthy and realistic.· I personally feel it's a shame that certain manufacturers are making amps to please thrash metallers only.
· She would have been held personally responsible and would almost certainly have fallen from office.· He is held personally responsible for complying with the many rules and regulations that govern its use.· He was personally held responsible for the failures of his economic stewardship.
· In 1859 the tsar intervened personally to prevent church leaders from consigning Belliustin to a monastery in the White Sea.· One has to be grateful to him for intervening personally.
· Yet when we are involved personally we are forced to acknowledge their existence and to try to understand them.· All hospitals held induction courses but few of the consultants were personally involved.
· Hayman would be unlikely to choose anyone known personally to his prey.· These models need not be people we know personally.· During the planting years, I have known personally most of the tree-farmers involved.· Every pupil is known personally, we have our own identity with staff.· A standard rumour was that some one the story-teller knew personally had been hitching a lift one dark night.· Not that he personally knew what it was.· The number of people whom they knew personally in Berlin could have been counted on the fingers of one hand.· None of them he knew personally, and most were completing their war service.
· So would they personally like to watch more about them?· They would like to do something for Jim, and the president personally likes him.· In Darcy's Utopia there will be elections, but people will be expected merely to vote for people they personally like.· But we were about to embarrass one of the preeminent members of the law school faculty-a man I personally liked.
· A witness summons should be served personally and the witness offered a reasonable sum of money to cover his travel expenses.· There was regrettable delay in serving it and it should have been served personally on Mr. Butler in prison.· Copies must be served personally on all parties to the proceedings.· It was personally served on the president at the Lugano address by an agent of the plaintiffs.
· And, also speaking personally, I agree with your view.
· I personally think he liked Cambridge University so much he bought it.· I think personally that this is a nonissue.· The steam tank is another device that I personally think every Empire army should have.· I personally think this is as idiotic as waving a bunsen burner around while having a row.· I personally think we can't hang on to the whole of Jerusalem.· I personally think the strength bonus their weapon gives more than compensates for their lack of a shield.· I personally think this is slightly low, especially as the game is so playable.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- Anna took it personally when the boss said some people were not working hard enough.
- I didn't take his rebuff too personally, since I was used to his habit of being rude to his juniors.
- Please don't take it personally - he doesn't want to see anyone.
- This is a general criticism, so I hope none of you will take it personally.
WORD FAMILYnounpersonpersonalitypersonapersonagethe personalspersonificationpersonneladjectivepersonal ≠ impersonalpersonalizedpersonableverbpersonalizepersonifyadverbpersonally ≠ impersonally
1[sentence adverb] spoken used to emphasize that you are only giving your own opinion about something: Personally, I don’t think much of the idea. I personally think it’s too cold to go out.2if you do something personally, you do it yourself rather than getting someone else to do it SYN in person: The managing director wrote personally to thank me. All important work is personally approved by him. I’ll see to it personally.3used to show that one particular person is involved, rather than a group of people: I’m holding you personally responsible for this mess! She clearly blamed me personally for the difficulties she’d been having.4take something personally to get upset by the things other people say or do, because you think that their remarks or behaviour are directed at you in particular: Don’t take it personally; she’s rude to everyone.5as a friend, or as someone you have met: I don’t know her personally, but I like her work.6in a way that criticizes someone’s character or appearance: Members of the Senate rarely attack each other personally.7in relation to someone’s private life, rather than to their work, business, or official duties: She had a lasting impact on his life both personally and professionally.