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.

---

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]

---

Etymology

Origin of dead ringer

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead ringer

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

If Santa were skinny and endlessly energetic, he’d be a dead ringer for Scott Wardlaw, president and chief cheerleader of Altadena’s 104-year holiday tradition known as Christmas Tree Lane.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2024

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

Although Hopper successfully battled a superagent, who was a dead ringer for Robert Patrick’s T-1000 in “Terminator 2,” he was also vaporized in the course of destroying the machine.

From New York Times ● May 27, 2022

His pale complexion and round face would have made him a dead ringer for the man in the moon, if the moon had wispy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a puzzled expression.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood