The expression “dead ringer” is used quite frequently in English, but it can be quite puzzling to the person learning English for the first time because there doesn’t seem to be any relationship between the two words.
As is the case with many expressions of this type, there is more than one explanation of where this phrase originated. In this case, though, there is only one correct one.
The term “dead ringer” means “exact duplicate.” One of the theories as to this phrase’s origin is that sometimes at parties, the hosts would offer a strongalcoholic beverage to the guests.
This particular beverage would be so strong that the person would be knocked unconscious for days and would appear to be dead. Therefore, those present would assume the worst and bury the person.
As a precaution, they would tie a bell to the person, so they could ring it if they woke up and were buried alive. However, this explanation does not account for the phrase’s current meaning.
The more viable theory about the origin of this phrase is that it refers to horse racing. In order to fool the bookies, some racers would race a substitute horse that was not as good, called a ringer, which looked exactly like the original.
Enquanto você lê
Ler sobre inglês não é falar inglês.
Em 200 horas a gente tira você do “entendo mas não falo”. Descubra em qual módulo você entra.
O que mudou foi ter ordem. Antes eu estudava solto.
When that horse lost, the bookies would lose the money they bet. The word “dead,” in this case, does not mean “lifeless” as it usually does. Here, the word “dead” means “exactly, accurate.” Therefore, the expression makes perfect sense. Here are some examples of how it is used:
Brian is a dead ringer for his dad.
That bike is a dead ringer for my brother’s bike.
Here are other examples of how this phrase is used:
Deixe um comentário