VOA词汇掌故2024--'Dead Giveaway' Is Not as Dark as It Sounds

And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples, notes on usage and sometimes use them in short conversations.

Today we talk about an expression that sounds very serious and dangerous: a dead giveaway. A "giveaway" is just as it sounds: You give something to someone else.

But a dead giveaway has nothing to do with tragedy or death.

In this expression, the word "dead" has another meaning you might not have known about.

In some common usages, the adjective "dead" can mean exact, correct or complete. For example, if someone is dead right, they are completely correct and there is no doubt about it. And, if someone is dead wrong, they are totally wrong.

In some trades, the word "dead" is a really good thing. For example, when something is dead center, it is exactly at the center. In building, dead level means perfectly¹ horizontal-just what you want. However, you never say "dead plumb²." Plumb already means perfectly vertical³.

So, a dead giveaway is a detail or action that gives away the truth completely and totally. It is like a clue that answers a question. A dead giveaway shows a truth, fact, or intention in an obvious way.

In other words, a dead giveaway leaves little room for misunderstanding.

Now, let's hear the expression in some examples.

A completely dark house and a huge pile of mail outside the door were two dead giveaways that no one had been home in quite some time.

She said that she was staying home for the night. But with all the makeup⁴ on her face, her hair styled, and her party clothes on, her appearance was a dead giveaway. She was clearly going out.

The expression on his face was a dead giveaway that he was guilty. He couldn't even look me in the eyes!

English has another expression that is similar. A telltale sign is an important detail or fact the clarifies the truth. It gives more supporting evidence.

We often pair telltale with the words "sign" or "symptom."

Let's hear some examples:

Well, my friend has missed work all week and hasn't responded to my calls. Those may be telltale symptoms of a bigger problem.

When the parents returned from their trip, they saw telltale signs everywhere in the house that their children had thrown a party.

And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

Words in This Story

horizontal -n. a line that is goes from side to side perfectly as though it is following the horizon

vertical -adj. going up and down at a right angle from the horizontal

intention -n. what someone means to do

obvious -adj. without doubt or confusion; clear and straightforward⁵

symptom -n. the sign that something is present, especially a disease

makeup -n. products that are put on the face to improve a person's appearance

styled -adj. being formed and shaped to look appealing to others

1 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

2 plumb   

adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深

参考例句：

• No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
• It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。

3 vertical   

adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置

参考例句：

• The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。
• Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。

4 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

5 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。