dummy

A model shaped like a person, used to display clothes or test safety.

• The dummy wears a blue coat.
• They used dummies to test the new car.
• She put the dress on a dummy.

Similar words: mannequin, human model

Common phrases: shop dummy, crash test dummy, training dummy

Someone you think is stupid; calling someone this can be hurtful.

• Do not be a dummy.
• I felt like a dummy after that mistake.
• She called him a dummy for losing the keys.

Similar words: fool, idiot

Common phrases: a complete dummy, call someone dummy

Something used in place of a real thing for testing or another purpose.

• This file is just a dummy.
• We used a dummy while testing the system.
• Replace the dummies with real customer records.

Similar words: placeholder, stand-in

Common phrases: a dummy file, use a dummy

A puppet that a performer makes seem to speak while keeping their own lips still.

• The dummy sat on his knee.
• Her dummy told a funny story.
• The performer gave both dummies different voices.

Similar words: puppet

Common phrases: ventriloquist dummy, wooden dummy

Made or used to take the place of something real, often for testing.

• We used dummy names in the report.
• This dummy phone cannot make calls.
• The students practised on dummy patients.

Similar words: fake, mock, simulated

Opposites: real

Common phrases: dummy account, dummy data, dummy device

To make a simple test version of something that does not fully work.

• We can dummy up a small stage.
• They dummied up a screen for the rehearsal.
• The team is dummying up a new control panel.

How to use it: dummy up something (We need to dummy up a display before building the real one.)

Similar words: mock up, prototype

Common phrases: dummy something up, dummy up props

To a very great degree.

• It is dummy hot today.
• That game was dummy hard.
• These shoes are dummy expensive.

Similar words: very, extremely, really

Common phrases: dummy hot, dummy hard, dummy good