Definition of ringer

ringernoun

Ringer

/ˈrɪŋə(r)//ˈrɪŋər/

The word "ringer" has a fascinating history. It's believed to have originated in the 19th century, likely from horse racing. A "ringer" was a horse that was entered in a race under a false name or identity, often to deceive bettors. The term likely arose from the fact that a ringer was a "ring-in" or a substitute, just like how a person might "ring" a bell to announce something. Over time, the word "ringer" expanded to encompass any person or thing that was a skillful or successful substitute, often surpassing the original. This meaning is still prevalent today, especially in sports and entertainment.

Summary
type danh từ
meaningngười kéo chuông ((cũng) bell
meaningcái để rung chuông
meaningcon cáo chạy vòng quanh (khi bị săn đuổi)
namespace

a person who rings church bells as a hobby

người rung chuông nhà thờ như một sở thích

a device that makes a ringing sound, for example on a phone

một thiết bị tạo ra âm thanh đổ chuông, ví dụ như trên điện thoại

Example:
  • It's easy to adjust the ringer volume.

    Thật dễ dàng để điều chỉnh âm lượng chuông.

a horse or person that takes part in a race illegally, for example by using a false name

một con ngựa hoặc người tham gia một cuộc đua bất hợp pháp, ví dụ bằng cách sử dụng tên giả

Related words and phrases

Idioms

be a dead ringer for somebody
(informal)to look very like somebody
  • She's a dead ringer for a girl I used to know.