English Idioms from A-Z

The Real Mccoy

"The real McCoy" is an idiom that means something is authentic, genuine, or of high quality. It is often used to describe a person, object, or situation that is not a fake or a copy, but the real thing.

The origin of this idiom is unclear, but there are several theories. One theory suggests that it comes from a famous Scottish engineer named Elijah McCoy, who invented a device that automatically oiled machinery. His invention was so successful that people started using the phrase "the real McCoy" to refer to his genuine product, rather than a cheap imitation.

Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the American West, where cowboys would use the term "the real McCoy" to describe a good whiskey that was not watered down or mixed with other substances.

Regardless of its origin, "the real McCoy" is a popular idiom that is used in everyday conversation. For example, if someone is looking for a genuine Rolex watch, they might say, "I want the real McCoy, not a fake one." Or, if someone is looking for an authentic Italian restaurant, they might say, "I want to go to the real McCoy, not some Americanized version."

Overall, "the real McCoy" is a useful idiom that can be used to describe anything that is authentic, genuine, or of high quality.


The usage of the idiom 'The Real Mccoy' in a sentence

• He is the real McCoy when it comes to playing football.

• The new restaurant in town claims to use only authentic Italian ingredients, but I doubt if it's the real McCoy.

• The painting that was recently discovered is the real McCoy, it’s an original Van Gogh.

• This watch is the real McCoy, it was made by Rolex.

• The new employee is the real McCoy, he has years of experience and knows the industry inside out.

• The scientist's research is the real McCoy, it has been peer-reviewed and published in reputable scientific journals.

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