dead ringer

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a person or thing that closely resembles another; ringer.

   That old car is a dead ringer for the one we used to own.

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dead ringer Idioms  

1. A person or thing that closely resembles another; an exact counterpart. For example, Brian's a dead ringer for his Dad, or That red bike is a dead ringer for Mary's. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of dead ringer

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

A weirdo dog lets you “show your individuality,” said Terence Nelson, 38, an influencer marketing strategist in New York whose fuzzy Brussels griffon, Sue, is a dead ringer for an Ewok.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

When she was a very young woman, my grandmother was a dead ringer for a famous actor named Myrna Loy.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2025

But on this day in early July, with his grown-out mustache and sideburns, Shaw, 53, was a dead ringer for his father in “Jaws.”

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2023

Nelson’s son Lukas sang “Angel Flying Too Close to The Ground” alone with his acoustic guitar, his voice a dead ringer for his dad’s.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2023

But Fish’s dead ringer of a pronouncement and bracelet are the lone fireworks.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson