Definition of the word ringer

Pronunciation of vocabulary ringer

ringernoun

Ringer

/ˈrɪŋə(r)//ˈrɪŋər/

Origin of the word ringer

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.

Vocabulary summary ringer

typenoun

meaningbell ringer

meaningbell ringer

meaningthe fox runs around (when being hunted)

Example of vocabulary ringernamespace

meaning

a person who rings church bells as a hobby

người rung chuông nhà thờ như một sở thích

meaning

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

  • It's easy to adjust the ringer volume.

    Thật dễ dàng để điều chỉnh âm lượng chuông.

meaning

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

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary ringer

Idioms of vocabulary ringer

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

    • Comment ()