[Idiom] DEAD RINGER. - Understanding the Impact of Doppelgangers in Culture

exact look-alike

'Dead ringer' means an exact duplicate or look-alike of someone else. This phrase likely comes from horse-racing slang, where a 'ringer' was a fraudulently substituted horse, identical to the expected one. It's used to describe situations where individuals, objects, or even ideas are indistinguishable from their counterparts, emphasizing an uncanny or surprising resemblance.

Example Sentences

1. He's a dead ringer for that famous actor.

   He looks exactly like that famous actor.

2. The thief was caught because he was a dead ringer for someone on the wanted list.

   The thief was identified because he looked exactly like someone on the wanted list.

3. She's a dead ringer for her mother; they look exactly alike.

   She looks exactly like her mother; they are very similar.