in character

IPA/ɪn kˈaɹɪktə/
IPA/ɪn kˈæɹɪktɚ/

in character — idiom

1. behaving in a way that matches what people who know you would expect, because it

1.慣用語B2
釋義

behaving in a way that matches what people who know you would expect, because it fits your established personality or habits

例句

Asher shouted at the driver who cut him off — totally in character.

collocation: totally in character

Zuri brought a homemade cake to the book club, perfectly in character.

collocation: perfectly in character

同義詞
  • typical

    more common in everyday speech; 'in character' is more emphatic about personality

  • characteristic

    more formal; used to describe enduring traits, not single actions

  • true to form

    very close synonym; slightly more informal and often used about predictable habits

反義詞
  • out of character

    the direct opposite — behaviour that surprises people who know you

用法筆記

Often intensified with adverbs like 'totally', 'completely', 'entirely', 'very much', or 'deeply'. Describes a single action or decision as consistent with a person's known nature.

常見錯誤

❌Her kindness was in character' (when you mean it was surprising).
✅Her kindness was out of character.
💡'in character' means the behaviour was typical, not unusual.
❌She behaved in a character way.
✅She behaved in character.
💡the phrase is fixed; do not insert 'a' or break it apart.

2. continuing to act and speak as the character you are playing in a performance, r

2.慣用語B2
釋義

continuing to act and speak as the character you are playing in a performance, rather than dropping back into your ordinary self

例句

Theo stayed in character as a wounded soldier even during the lunch break.

pattern: stay in character as [role]

Iris forgot her real accent and spoke in character throughout the three-hour rehearsal.

同義詞
  • in role

    used interchangeably in theatre contexts; 'in character' is the more common phrase

  • in the part

    more British; less common than 'in character'

反義詞

用法筆記

Used in theatre, film, and television. The opposite phrase 'out of character' describes an actor dropping their role. Can also be used metaphorically outside performance contexts to describe someone playing a social role.

常見錯誤

❌The actor was in the character of Hamlet.
✅The actor was in character as Hamlet.
💡use 'as' (not 'of') to name the role.
❌He stayed in his character.
✅He stayed in character.
💡no possessive pronoun; the phrase is fixed.