Jo: Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning English, I’m Jo.

Sun Chen: 我是孫晨。這就是我們的地道英語。

Jo: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Sun Chen: 就是。英語說起來，其實有特別多的口語，還有習慣用語。所以你可要趕緊跟上，隨時把握每天英語當中最常用的說法。

Jo: And today we’re looking at a strange expression - to be a dead ringer for…. to be a dead ringer for…

Sun Chen: 這個說法聽起來怎么這么怪啊！這個詞組究竟是什么意思呢？

Jo: It’s a way of saying that somebody looks very similar to someone else.

Sun Chen: 啊，你這么一說我就明白了。其實這種說法的意思，就是說誰長得像誰。

Jo: That’s right. We also use the expression ‘the spitting image of’ to talk about someone looking similar to someone else, sometimes someone famous.

Insert

A. Look over there, is that David Beckham?

B. No, it can’t be!

A. No maybe you’re right, but that guy’s a dead ringer for him.

Jo: The expression ‘dead ringer’ is so well-known in Britain, that there is even a radio and TV series called ‘Dead Ringers’.

Sun Chen: 那這些節目當中，都有些什么呢？

Jo: It’s a comedy programme where people impersonate famous people.

Sun Chen: impersonate – 學人家，模仿別人。那參與這些節目的人都長得特像名人嗎？

Jo: Well, not really, but they dress up and put on make-up so that they do! Anyway, to recap, today’s expression is ‘to be a dead ringer for …’

Sun Chen: 說的就是長的像誰，特別是說長的像名人。

Jo: Join us next time for more Real English, from BBC Learning English.

Sun Chen: 我們下次節目再見！Bye。

Jo: Goodbye.