Dead ringer

Posted by Lotg on November 24, 2003

Dead ringer means identical. eg. He's a dead ringer for the bloke down the road, - ie. he's identical to the block down the road.

I'm thinking this just might be an all aussie term this time (don't even think it's of pommie origin - but I was wrong once before in my life, so could be now - he he) - and it sounds sheep related (you know - ringer) - but why 'dead ringer'?