Are You Getting the 'Real Deal' or a 'Rip-Off'?
When a business has a good idea or a popular product, it doesn't take long for someone else to copy it — but the copy will almost never be as good. Here are some phrases to talk about what's original and what's not.
When we call something the "real deal," we mean it's real or genuine. You can also use this phrase to say that someone or something is the best at what they do or the best example of their kind. Another way to call someone or something real or superior is to say they're "the genuine article."
If someone copies your work, you can call them a "copycat." And when a copy of the original product or service looks a lot like the real deal, you can call it "a lookalike."
If you dupe someone, you make them believe that something is true or real when it isn't. You can also call a product that has been copied from another "a dupe." Sometimes a dupe will do some of what the genuine article does, but it's usually much lower quality.
Another word for a product that is a cheaper and lower quality copy of something else is "knockoff." And while getting something for less money may seem like a good idea, it could still be a "rip-off" if it's low quality. That's when something costs a lot more than it's worth.
