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• the real McCoy
  the real McCoy

  The best of its kind, the real thing: “That homemade pizza was the real McCoy.” The source of this expression is the story of a famous prizefighter named McCoy. He had so many imitators that no one was sure which was the real one.
• real McCoy, the
  real McCoy, the

  Also, the McCoy. The genuine thing, as in That painting's not a reproduction—it's the real McCoy. This idiom has a disputed origin, but the most likely source is its use to distinguish welterweight champion “Kid McCoy,” the name used by Norman Selby (1873-1940), from other boxers using his name to capitalize on his popularity. [c. 1900]

the real McCoy

Cultural  

1. The best of its kind, the real thing: “That homemade pizza was the real McCoy.” The source of this expression is the story of a famous prizefighter named McCoy. He had so many imitators that no one was sure which was the real one.

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real McCoy, the Idioms  

1. Also, the McCoy. The genuine thing, as in That painting's not a reproduction—it's the real McCoy. This idiom has a disputed origin, but the most likely source is its use to distinguish welterweight champion “Kid McCoy,” the name used by Norman Selby (1873-1940), from other boxers using his name to capitalize on his popularity. [c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

the real McCoy real McCoy, the

The artificial fingertip was not quite as sensitive as the real McCoy, however.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 5, 2022

Chicken wings — the real McCoy — are the most expensive part of the bird these days, Oosterwijk said.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 4, 2020

But like “Gilligan’s Island” spinoffs “The New Adventures of Gilligan” and “Gilligan’s Planet,” they can’t seem to capture the magic of the real McCoy — and they’re at risk of being canceled because of it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2019

“He’s the real McCoy — so moving,” Mr. McDermott said.

From New York Times ● May 19, 2017

The man had character and spunk and Bloom had considered him an attractive original, had always known he was the real McCoy.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

But here is the real McCoy, the tastes and values of the general public valorized.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2015