dummy run
Trial before real
A dummy run is a practice or trial attempt before the real thing—a rehearsal that tests procedures without the actual stakes.
The term comes from military and technical contexts where you simulate an operation to identify problems: We did a dummy run of the presentation before the client meeting.
British speakers may prefer dummy run where Americans would say dry run or trial run.
- trial runPreliminary test attempt
- pretestAssessment before instruction
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- walkthroughSequential instructional guide
- test runPreliminary performance check
practice · practice session · run-through · shakedown · drill · simulation · prototype · ruse · mock-up · decoy · try-on · testing ground · countdown · warm-up act · feint · preview · pipe-opener · tryout
- feintsfeint, fake, juke, deke, head fake
- soccer tacticsformation, pressing, passing, counter-attack, counterattack
- soccer techniquesfree kick, corner kick, penalty spot, goal kick, throw-in
- Simulationimitating, copying, mimicking, replicating, mirroring
- trialsjury trial, bench trial, civil trial, criminal trial, retrial
dummy runthe real thing
Authentic original version
live event · live performance · production run · real deal · genuine article
dummy runfinal performance
Last scheduled appearance
opening night · game day · crunch time · combat mission · live fire exercise