the real thing
Genuine, not counterfeit
The real thing is the genuine article, not an imitation or substitute.
The phrase often implies that alternatives exist but fall short: I've tried other colas, but nothing beats the real thing.
It can refer to authentic experiences, true love, or anything that meets the full standard rather than approximating it: After years of casual dating, she knew this was the real thing.
- authenticVerified as original
- genuineTruly what it claims
- genuine articleAuthentic original item
- originalFirst or inventive
- truthAccordance with reality
actual · legitimate · bona fide · honest · honest to goodness · true blue · unfiltered · raw · pure · substance · deal · McCoy · sincere · true · tried and true · straight up · undiluted · verifiable
the real thingfool's gold
Iron sulfide mineral
fake · counterfeit · imitation · forgery · knockoff
the real thingsubstitute
Replacement for another
pale imitation · also-ran · wannabe · pretender · shadow
real, thing, reality, realism, realist, realistic, realistically, unreal, unrealistic