real McCoy
The authentic one
The real McCoy is the genuine article—authentic, not an imitation or counterfeit.
The phrase emphasizes legitimacy, often when distinguishing something from inferior substitutes or fakes: This isn't some knockoff; it's the real McCoy.
The origin is disputed but the meaning is not: whatever you're looking at is the real thing.
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- bona fideAuthentic and sincere
- legitimateConforming to accepted standards
- veritableTruly what's claimed
true · original · certified · unadulterated · unfeigned · no-nonsense · honest-to-goodness · true-blue
genuine
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- bona fideAuthentic and sincere
- legitimateConforming to accepted standards
veritable · true · original · certified · unadulterated · unfeigned · no-nonsense · honest-to-goodness · true-blue · pukka
gold standard
Measure of ultimate quality
epitome · quintessence · archetype · touchstone · prototype · classic · ideal · model · hallmark · yardstick
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, fake, counterfeit, bogus
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- ProhibitionProhibition, speakeasies, bootlegger, bootleggers, speakeasy
real McCoydime-a-dozen
Too common to value
pale imitation · run-of-the-mill · also-ran · second-rate · schlock
real, realize, really, reality, unreal, realization, unreality, reals, realest