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Ringer: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽญ
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ringer

 

[ หˆrษชล‹ษ™r ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sports terminology

In sports, a 'ringer' refers to a player who is of significantly higher skill level than the rest of the team or the competition. This term is often used to describe someone who is not a regular member of a team but is brought in to ensure a victory. The use of a ringer can be controversial, as it may lead to questions about the fairness of the competition. It can also refer to someone who is deceptive or poses as someone else in various contexts.

Synonyms

fraud, imposter, sham

Examples of usage

  • They brought in a ringer to help win the championship.
  • She was considered a ringer for the competitive team due to her experience.
  • The local league prohibits the use of ringers to maintain fair play.
Context #2 | Noun

informal usage

Informally, a 'ringer' can refer to any person or thing that is used to mislead or trick others. This usage emphasizes the deceptive nature of the term, indicating someone who takes on a false identity or leads people to believe they are something they are not. It can be utilized in situations where someone plays a role that is not true to their actual abilities or characteristics.

Synonyms

deceiver, poser, pretender

Examples of usage

  • He was a ringer at the party, pretending to be a celebrity.
  • The magician's assistant was a real ringer, fooling everyone.
  • They used a ringer in the con to swindle the unsuspecting buyers.

Translations

Translations of the word "ringer" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sino

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคฟเค‚เค—เคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Glocke

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lonceng

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะทะฒะพะฝะธะบ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dzwon

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒชใƒณใ‚ฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sonnette

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ timbre

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท zil

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฒจ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌุฑุณ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zvonek

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zvonฤek

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้“ƒ้“›

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zvonec

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ bjalla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะพาฃั‹ั€ะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ–แƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zษ™ng

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ timbre

Etymology

The term 'ringer' has its origins in the 19th century, with its earliest use traced back to the sport of horse racing. It is believed to have derived from the practice of entering a horse that was not oneโ€™s own by substituting a faster horse, thus presenting a 'ringer' that appeared as a different horse. The word itself is thought to be a play on the term 'to ring' or 'ring-in,' which means to substitute or to take someone else's place. Over time, the nomenclature expanded beyond horse racing and began to be applied to various sports and informal contexts where deception or misrepresentation occurred. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was commonly used in team sports to describe players who were brought in to skew the odds in favor of a team, often leading to debates about the integrity of competition.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,721, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.