elusive person

USAGE SUMMARY

"elusive person" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone who is hard to catch or to find, particularly in terms of their thoughts or feelings. For example, "He was an elusive person, always keeping his true feelings hidden from us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The flexible personality that made him a great attorney also made him an elusive person.

The New Yorker

He describes how, in 1948, the publicity campaign for Monk's first recordings established the conventional view of "a shy and elusive person... surrounded by an aura of mystery... a strange person whose pianistics continue to baffle all who hear him".

The Guardian - Books

Hermione Lee's Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life is literary biography at its best – a masterly discussion of the work of that fine novelist and an illuminating account of the life of a complex and elusive person.

The Guardian - Books

The remarkable end to the hunt for the world's most elusive person – an operation that for many years appeared to have been sidelined - came just months before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centres and the Pentagon, orchestrated Bin Laden's al-Qa'ida organisation, that killed more than 3,000 people.

Independent

Not the elusive person who somehow holds the key to your next job.

Huffington Post

Frustrated communication, whether the consequence of a Skype encounter or a tête-à-tête, is a recurrent theme, as is the quest for the elusive person or place that allows one to feel at home.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The two sons, like the father, are thus ubiquitous, in their photos, yet so elusive in person as to raise questions about how readily American troops would find them, should war bring American battalions to Baghdad.

The New York Times

Mr. Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay, struggles with the book's displaced chronology and its elusive first-person narration, but he has been unable to replicate Ms. Egan's skill in keeping a clear eye on her story while representing Phoebe's vague, ambivalent cast of mind.

The New York Times

She was Everywoman and also an elusive, disturbingly singular person.

The New Yorker

In the same way, sleep becomes more elusive as a person's sleep needs become more urgent.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As well as the elusive Abramovich, one other person was missing from the lop-sided drama: Abramovich's barrister Jonathan Sumption QC.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elusive person" when describing someone whose true nature, motives, or whereabouts are difficult to ascertain. Ensure the context provides clues as to why they are considered elusive, such as a tendency to avoid contact or conceal information.

Common error

Avoid using "elusive person" simply to describe someone who is shy or introverted. Elusiveness implies a deliberate attempt to avoid being found or understood, not just a preference for solitude.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elusive person" functions as a noun phrase, where "elusive" modifies the noun "person". It serves to describe a quality or characteristic of an individual, indicating they are difficult to find, catch, or understand. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elusive person" correctly describes someone difficult to find, understand, or capture, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's a noun phrase with a neutral register, suitable for various contexts, but implying a deliberate effort to avoid being grasped. Alternatives include "enigmatic figure" or "shadowy figure", but avoid using it for merely shy individuals. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, understanding its connotation prevents misuse. "Elusive person" is a descriptor that combines the qualities of being hard to reach or define, adding a layer of complexity to the individual it represents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enigmatic figure

Suggests a person who is mysterious and difficult to interpret.

inscrutable character

Focuses on the person's impenetrable nature and the inability to understand their thoughts or motives.

shadowy figure

Implies that the person is secretive and operates in the background, avoiding attention.

hard-to-define individual

Emphasizes the difficulty in providing a clear definition or understanding of the person.

ambiguous individual

Emphasizes the person's lack of clarity or definition, making them difficult to categorize or understand.

hard to pin down individual

Highlights the difficulty in getting the person to commit to something or reveal their true intentions.

difficult-to-find individual

Highlights the challenge in locating or contacting the person.

untraceable person

Suggests that the person's whereabouts or activities are impossible to follow or discover.

unreachable individual

Focuses on the difficulty in establishing communication or contact with the person.

slippery customer

Implies someone who is cunning and avoids being caught or held accountable.

FAQs

How can I use "elusive person" in a sentence?

You can use "elusive person" to describe someone who is difficult to find, understand, or catch. For example, "The spy was an "elusive person", rarely staying in one place for long".

What are some alternatives to saying "elusive person"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "enigmatic figure", "hard to define individual", or "shadowy figure".

What makes someone an "elusive person"?

An "elusive person" is someone who is difficult to grasp, define, or find. This could be due to their secretive nature, constantly changing location, or intentionally misleading others.

Is it better to describe someone as "elusive" or "private"?

"Private" suggests someone who doesn't readily share personal information, while "elusive" suggests someone who actively avoids being found or understood. An "elusive person" may also be private, but the term implies a greater degree of intentionality.