Meaning & use
dead ringer
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
A person or thing that looks exactly like another person or thing.
Grammar: Used with 'for': a dead ringer for someone or something.
Patterns
- a dead ringer for someone
- a dead ringer for something
That new actor is a dead ringer for a young Marlon Brando.
The old house is a dead ringer for the one I grew up in.
Common combinations
- a dead ringer for
- She's a dead ringer for her mother.
- be a dead ringer
- He could be a dead ringer for the president.
- look like a dead ringer
- With that haircut, you look like a dead ringer for my brother.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lookalike
- A neutral word for someone who resembles another; 'dead ringer' is more informal and often implies a striking, almost identical resemblance.
- double
- Used for a person who takes another's place, especially in films; 'dead ringer' focuses on appearance, not function.
- spitting image
- A British phrase meaning very similar in appearance, often used of family members; 'dead ringer' is more American and informal.
Commonly confused: dead ringer or ringer?
dead ringer vs ringer
A 'ringer' is a person or thing that enters a competition dishonestly, or a bell-ringer; 'dead ringer' is only about close resemblance.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'Everyone says he's a dead ringer ___ his father.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'a dead ringer for someone', so 'for' is correct. 'To' might seem logical because we say 'similar to', but 'dead ringer' does not take 'to'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dead ringer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.