Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: real deal
Antonyms: none provided
noun
informal usage attributing authenticity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: real thing, real stuff
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: authenticity, genuineness, legitimacy
History
Corruption of Scots the real MacKay, this latter attested in 1856 as “A drappie o’ the real MacKay” (A drop of the real MacKay). How “MacKay” became “McCoy” is unclear; first attested in the form “McCoy” in the US in 1908. The term is the subject of many folk etymologies, discussed at the Wikipedia entry.
Across languages
1 source translations are retained for this English entry.
