A dummy is a model of a person, often used to display clothes.
...the bottom half of a shop-window dummy.
...the ventriloquist's dummy.
2. countable noun [oft NOUN noun]
You can use dummy to refer to things that are not real, but have been made to look or behave as if they are real.
Dummy patrol cars will be set up beside motorways to frighten speeding motorists.
They asked her to put together a dummy for a new magazine.
Soldiers were still using dummy weapons because real guns were not yet available.
3. countable noun
A baby's dummy is a rubber or plastic object that you give the baby to suck so that he or she feels comforted.
[British]regional note: in AM, usually use pacifier
4. countable noun
If you call someone a dummy, you mean that you think they are stupid.
[informal, disapproval]
'You're a dummy, Mack,' she yelled.
5. countable noun
A dummy or dummy hand is a hand of cards in a card game such as bridge or whist which is placed on the table so all the players can see it.
More Synonyms of dummy
dummy in British English
(ˈdʌmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
1.
a figure representing the human form, used for displaying clothes, in a ventriloquist's act, as a target, etc
2.
a.
a copy or imitation of an object, often lacking some essential feature of the original
b.
(as modifier)
a dummy drawer
3. slang
a stupid person; fool
4. old-fashioned, slang, offensive
a person without the power of speech; mute
5. informal
a person who says or does nothing
6.
a.
a person who appears to act for himself or herself while acting on behalf of another
b.
(as modifier)
a dummy buyer
7. military
a weighted round without explosives, used in drill and training
8. bridge
a.
the hand exposed on the table by the declarer's partner and played by the declarer
b.
the declarer's partner
9.
a.
a prototype of a proposed book, indicating the general appearance and dimensions of the finished product
b.
a designer's layout of a page indicating the positions for illustrations, etc
10.
a feigned pass or move in a sport such as football or rugby
11. British
a rubber teat for babies to suck or bite on
US and Canadian equivalent: pacifier
12. (modifier)
counterfeit; sham
13. (modifier)
(of a card game) played with one hand exposed or unplayed
14. spit the dummy
verbWord forms: -mies, -mying or -mied
15.
to prepare a dummy of (a proposed book, page, etc)
16. Also: sell someone a dummy sport
to use a dummy pass in order to trick (an opponent)
Word origin
C16: see dumb, -y3
dummy in American English
(ˈdʌmi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈdummies
1. Slang, Obsolete
a person unable to talk; mute
an offensive term
2.
a figure made in human form, as for displaying clothing, practicing tackling in football, etc.
3.
an imitation or sham; substitute for the real thing, as an empty container or false drawer
4.
a person secretly acting for another while apparently representing his or her own interests
5. Slang
a stupid person
6. Bridge
a.
the declarer's partner, whose hand is arranged face up on the table and played by the declarer
b.
such a hand
7. Printing
a.
a set of pages with the layout, as for a magazine
b.
a bound volume with blank pages, used as a model for a planned book
adjective
8.
imitation; sham; fictitious
9.
secretly acting as a front for another
a dummy corporation
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈdummied or ˈdummying
10. Slang
used only in the phrasedummy up, to refuse to talk or tell what one knows
Word origin
< dumb + -y2
More idioms containing
dummy
spit out the dummy
a dummy run
Examples of 'dummy' in a sentence
dummy
Across is the ending as declarer led dummy's winning ten of hearts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Looking at my hand and dummy, they can only be?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But you can count four higher cards in dummy (?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A convicted robber, he uses a dummy firm to bankroll the trolling factory.
The Sun (2016)
He'd set up dummy's nine but had no way to get back there.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Parents are told to stop dummy use after a year.
The Sun (2013)
Yet the only dummy entry is the ace of clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Other volunteers who were given a dummy pill had no significant change.
The Sun (2015)
Perhaps you can guess what declarer led from dummy at trick three.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Declarer will surely now play another heart but dummy is squeezed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The dealer can swap her hand or the dummy if she wishes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The bidding is over and partner tables their dummy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He had this dummy he could use to go left or right.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Seems the real dummies are the ones running the jails.
The Sun (2014)
Now ruff a club high and cross back to dummy with the nine of hearts to cash the clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Who are you calling a dummy?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You now cash the ace of hearts and cross to dummy's ten.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
East won the king and returned the eight of hearts which passed to dummy's ten.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The investigator would then make a dummy call, asking the landlord for his name and address and details of rents.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
HIGH STREET shops have become real dummies when it comes to the size of their mannequins.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
dummy
America, terms used in bridge
In other languages
dummy
British English: dummy /ˈdʌmɪ/ NOUN
A dummy is a model of a person, often used to display clothes.
...a shop-window dummy.
American English: dummy
Arabic: أَبْكَم
Brazilian Portuguese: boneco
Chinese: 人体模型
Croatian: lutka
Czech: figurína
Danish: dummy
Dutch: mannequin
European Spanish: maniquí
Finnish: sovitusnukke
French: mannequin
German: Schaufensterpuppe
Greek: ομοίωμα
Italian: manichino
Japanese: マネキン
Korean: 모형
Norwegian: utstillingsfigur
Polish: manekin
European Portuguese: manequim
Romanian: manechin
Russian: манекен
Latin American Spanish: maniquí
Swedish: attrapp
Thai: หุ่นจำลอง
Turkish: vitrin mankeni
Ukrainian: манекен
Vietnamese: người nộm ma nơ canh
All related terms of 'dummy'
dummy run
A dummy run is a trial or test procedure which is carried out in order to see if a plan or process works properly.
crash dummy
a dummy used in crash tests
dummy head
a model of the human head with a microphone in each ear intended to receive sound in binaural and surround sound reproduction and transmission
dummy load
a resistive component that absorbs all the output power of an electrical generator or radio transmitter in order to simulate working conditions for test purposes
dummy element
an otherwise empty element that stands in for and holds the position of another element in a sentence
dummy symbol
an otherwise empty element that stands in for and holds the position of another element in a sentence
stuffed dummy
someone who says or does nothing and is generally inanimate and characterless
a dummy run
a trial or test procedure which you carry out in order to see if a plan or process will work properly
dummy variable
a variable appearing in a mathematical expression that can be replaced by any arbitrary variable, not occurring in the expression, without affecting the value of the whole
tailor's dummy
a mannequin used to help tailor or fit clothes
spit the dummy
to lose control of one's temper
crash test dummy
a dummy used in crash tests
ventriloquist's dummy
a puppet which is operated by a ventriloquist and made to appear to talk
spit out the dummy
to behave in a bad-tempered and childish way
dummied
a figure representing the human form, used for displaying clothes, in a ventriloquist's act, as a target , etc
Chinese translation of 'dummy'
dummy
(ˈdʌmɪ)
n(c)
(Brit, for baby) 橡皮奶头(頭) (xiàngpí nǎitóu) (个(個), gè)
美 = pacifier
(= mannekin) 人体(體)模型 (réntǐ móxíng) (个(個), gè)
(inf, = idiot) 笨蛋 (bèndàn) (个(個), gè)
(in cards) (also dummy hand) 明手牌 (míngshǒupái) (张(張), zhāng)
adj
(= false) 假的 (jiǎ de)
a dummy run (Brit, = test run) 试(試)演 (shìyǎn) (次, cì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a large model that looks like a human being, used for displaying clothes in a shop, as a target, etc.
a shop-window dummy
Synonyms
model
an architect's model of a wooden house
figure
A figure appeared in the doorway.
mannequin
a shop-window mannequin
form
Valleys often take the form of deep canyons.
manikin
lay figure
2 (noun)
Definition
a copy of an object, often lacking some essential feature of the original
The police video camera was a dummy.
Synonyms
imitation
the most accurate imitation of Chinese architecture in Europe
copy
Always keep a copy of everything in your own files.
duplicate
Enclosed is a duplicate of the invoice we sent you last month.
sham
Their promises were exposed as a hollow sham.
counterfeit
Counterfeits of the company's goods are flooding Europe.
replica
It was a replica, for display only.
3 (noun)
Definition
a stupid person
(slang)
He's no dummy, this guy.
Synonyms
fool
She'd been a fool to accept the offer.
jerk (slang, mainly US, Canadian)
He'd tricked her into walking into the garbage, to make her look like a total jerk!
idiot
I knew I'd been an idiot to stay there.
plank (British, slang)
charlie (British, informal, old-fashioned)
berk (British, slang)
prick (taboo, slang)
wally (slang)
prat (slang)
plonker (slang, old-fashioned)
coot (old-fashioned)
dunce
He was a dunce at mathematics.
oaf (old-fashioned)
some oaf shouting into his phone
simpleton (old-fashioned)
He was a lightweight, a political simpleton.
dullard (old-fashioned)
dimwit (informal)
Frankly, only a dimwit would say that.
dipstick (British, slang)
dickhead (taboo, slang)
gonzo (slang, rare)
schmuck (US, slang)
dork (slang)
nitwit (informal)
You great nitwit! What did you do that for?
dolt
He's a first class dolt.
blockhead
a bunch of bowler-hatted blockheads
divvy (British, slang, rare)
pillock (British, slang)
dweeb (US, slang)
putz (US, slang)
fathead (informal)
weenie (US, informal)
eejit (Scottish, Irish)
thicko (British, slang)
dumb-ass (slang)
gobshite (Irish, taboo, slang)
numpty (Scottish, informal)
doofus (slang, mainly US)
lamebrain (informal)
fuckwit (taboo, slang)
dickwit (taboo, slang)
numbskull or numskull
dorba or dorb (Australian, slang)
bogan (Australian, slang)
mampara (South Africa, informal)
(adjective)
Definition
imitation or substitute
Soldiers were still using dummy guns.
Synonyms
imitation
a set of novels bound in imitation leather
false
He paid for a false passport.
fake
The bank manager is said to have issued fake certificates.
artificial
The sauce was glutinous and tasted artificial.
mock
`It's tragic,' he swooned in mock horror.
bogus
bogus insurance claims
simulated
a necklace of simulated pearls
sham
The election has been denounced as a sham by world leaders.