Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person or thing that closely resembles another, especially a person who resembles a famous individual: A "look-alike" is someone or something that bears a very close physical resemblance to another person or object, often used in the context of impersonators or similar products.

2. Adjective:

   • Closely resembling another person or thing: Describes an object or person that has a striking similarity in appearance to another.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The celebrity hired a look-alike for the risky stunt scene. (The famous person employed a double who closely resembled them for the dangerous part of the film.)
  • This generic soda is a cheap look-alike of the popular brand. (This unbranded soft drink is an inexpensive imitation that looks very similar to the well-known one.)

• Adjective:

  • They drove look-alike cars, making it hard to tell them apart. (They operated vehicles that were nearly identical in appearance.)
  • The company produced look-alike handbags that mimicked the designer's style. (The firm manufactured bags that closely copied the appearance of the luxury brand's products.)

Advanced Usage

• Professional Context: A "look-alike" is often used professionally for security, entertainment, or marketing purposes.

  • The political candidate used a look-alike as a decoy during the parade. (The office-seeker employed a double to divert attention.)

• Legal and Commercial Context: The term can imply imitation, sometimes raising issues of trademark or copyright.

  • The store was sued for selling look-alike products that infringed on the patent. (The retailer faced legal action for selling imitative goods.)

Variants and Related Words

• Double (n): A person who closely resembles another, often used as a substitute, especially in films.

  • The actor's double performed all the action sequences.

• Doppelgänger (n): A German-derived term for a non-biologically related look-alike or double of a living person.

  • He was shocked to meet his doppelgänger at the conference.

• Imitation (n/adj): A copy or simulation; not genuine. While related, "imitation" is broader and can refer to copying function or behavior, not just appearance.

  • The vase was a clever imitation of a Ming dynasty original.

Synonyms

• Dead ringer (n, informal): A person or thing that looks exactly like another.

  • With that wig, she's a dead ringer for the singer.

• Spitting image (n, informal): A person who looks extremely like another.

  • The baby is the spitting image of his father.

• Clone (n): In informal use, a person or thing regarded as an identical copy.

  • That new building is a clone of the one across the street.

Related Phrases

• To be a look-alike for someone: To physically resemble someone closely.
  • He could be a look-alike for the president when he wears that suit. (He closely resembles the president in that attire.)

Idioms

• (To be) the very image of someone: An idiom meaning to look exactly like someone else.
  • She's the very image of her mother at that age. (She looks exactly like her mother did when she was young.)

Adjective

1. resembling closely
   • they have look-alike cars

Noun

1. someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor)
   • he could be Gingrich's double
   • she's the very image of her mother