dead giveaway
noun
: something that shows (the truth about something) clearly
The camera is a dead giveaway that you're a tourist.
Examples of dead giveaway in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Well, that’s very cynical, but there’s a dead giveaway that gives away almost the exact vintage of these compositions: the lyrics.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2023
When sniffing out a revenant, lack of decomposition was, literally, a dead giveaway.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
If Bigham had already sensed the referee’s inexperience, the shoulder tap was a dead giveaway: MMA referees signal the end of a fight by physical intervention, often using their body as a shield or using brute force to pry off the winning fighter.
—Zoë Bernard, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2023
This can be a dead giveaway for a submarine trying to sneak around in the presence of enemy warships.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2023
Thick layers of smog are a dead giveaway that outdoor air pollution is looming over busy cities, but indoor air pollution isn’t as easy to see.
—Lacey Muinos, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2023
She’s started to notice, for example, that nail polish can be a dead giveaway for photos taken on the same day, even when an influencer is posting different outfits on different days.
—ELLE, 6 Feb. 2023
Born as Suzannah Elizabeth Powell in Nashville (the signature Tennessee drawl is a dead giveaway), Boyfriend grew up in the Church of Christ, and attended Christian schools as a kid.
—Brittanie Shey, Chron, 10 Apr. 2023
Look for Dimples in Trim Like drywall fasteners, finish nails in trim are often a dead giveaway for a stud's location.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2023
See More
Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2023
When sniffing out a revenant, lack of decomposition was, literally, a dead giveaway.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
If Bigham had already sensed the referee’s inexperience, the shoulder tap was a dead giveaway: MMA referees signal the end of a fight by physical intervention, often using their body as a shield or using brute force to pry off the winning fighter.
—Zoë Bernard, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2023
This can be a dead giveaway for a submarine trying to sneak around in the presence of enemy warships.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2023
Thick layers of smog are a dead giveaway that outdoor air pollution is looming over busy cities, but indoor air pollution isn’t as easy to see.
—Lacey Muinos, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2023
She’s started to notice, for example, that nail polish can be a dead giveaway for photos taken on the same day, even when an influencer is posting different outfits on different days.
—ELLE, 6 Feb. 2023
Born as Suzannah Elizabeth Powell in Nashville (the signature Tennessee drawl is a dead giveaway), Boyfriend grew up in the Church of Christ, and attended Christian schools as a kid.
—Brittanie Shey, Chron, 10 Apr. 2023
Look for Dimples in Trim Like drywall fasteners, finish nails in trim are often a dead giveaway for a stud's location.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dead giveaway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dead giveaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20giveaway. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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