real (redirected from realness)

for real

Inf. genuine; not imaginary. Ken is really strange. Is he for real? This whole day has been weird, it just isn't for real.

Get real!

Inf. Start acting realistically! Hey, chum! You are way off base! Get real! Get real! Wake up to reality!

See also: get

real McCoy

an authentic thing or person. Of course it's authentic. It's the real McCoy.

See also: McCoy

real thing

something that is genuine and not an imitation. I don't want frozen yogurt, I want the real thing! Yes, ice cream! She hates plastic that looks like wood. She wants the real thing.

See also: thing

---

Get real!  (informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that they should try to understand the true facts of a situation instead of hoping for something impossible Oh, get real! You're not tall enough to be a model.

See also: get

the real McCoy

the real thing and not a copy or something similar

Usage notes: Kid McCoy, an American boxer (= a man who fights as a sport), was called 'the real McCoy' to show that he was not another boxer who had the same name.

Cheap sparkling wines cannot be labelled 'champagne'. It has to be the real McCoy.

See also: McCoy

---

for real (spoken)

1. actually or truly When they told me I had an unlimited budget I knew this was not for real.

Usage notes: often said in reaction to what someone else says: “I don't think I'm going to the party.” “For real?”

2. as good as it seems Any time an unknown player does something amazing, people wonder if he is for real.

get real

to accept the truth and not deceive yourself Voters want Congress to get real and pass a bill to revive the economy.

Usage notes: also used as an order: You expect me to ignore data like that? Get real!

Related vocabulary: face facts

See also: get