dead-ringer
idiom

- someone or something which looks very similar to someone or something else

The Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase “dead-ringer” originated in the late 19th century and its earliest usage was in reference to horses that were nearly identical in appearance. The term “dead” here means “exact” or “precise” and “ringer” means “duplicate” or “imposter”.

Over time, the phrase has been used to describe people, objects, and situations that are so alike that they are often mistaken for each other. For example, twins are often referred to as dead-ringers because of their striking similarity.

The phrase has also been used in various fields, such as sports and entertainment, to describe someone who closely resembles a well-known athlete or celebrity.

Despite its long history, the term remains popular and is often used in casual conversation to describe any situation where there is an exact or nearly identical match.

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The word “dead”, contrary to its basic meaning, is far from lifeless. It can be found in a variety of expressions and phrases. Here is a small sample:

- a dead end = a situation in which no progress can be made (The European marketing strategy is a dead end)

- dead certain = to be very sure (I’m dead certain I sent you the e-mail last week)

- dead wood = people in an organization who are management deem to be no longer useful (Many banks are now getting rid of their dead wood)

- knock somebody dead = to do something so well or look so attractive, other people admire you a lot (You really knocked them dead with your speech at the seminar!)

- stop dead in one’s tracks = to stop completely still suddenly because of fear, a noise, etc (The scream stopped me dead in my tracks until I realised it was just the television)

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SYNONYMS

- for exact likeness

carbon copy, clone, copycat, DEAD-RINGER, doppelgänger, double, duplicate, exact, facsimile, indistinguishable, lookalike, match, mirror image, replica, simulacrum, spitting image, stand-in, twin

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THANKS to Sabine for suggesting today’s word!

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Who would have thought that the English phrase ‘DEAD-RINGER’ is a synonym for doppelgänger?"

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