the real thing

the real thing

The genuine or authentic person or thing; the most pure or untainted example of a type of person or thing. You have to be careful in these market bazaars that what you're buying is the real thing and not some cheap imitation. Though many had their doubts about her dedication to the cause, the party's new leader has proven herself to be the real thing.
See also: real, thing
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

real thing

something that is genuine and not an imitation. I don't want frozen yogurt, I want the real thing! Yes, ice cream! She hates plastic that looks like wood. She wants the real thing.
See also: real, thing
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

the real thing

COMMON If you describe something as the real thing, you mean that it is the thing itself, rather than a copy or something made to seem similar. The fake handbags sell for about $20 less than the real thing. The Blairgowrie Highland Games are the real thing rather than a media event.
See also: real, thing
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the real thing

a thing that is absolutely genuine or authentic. informal
See also: real, thing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the real ˈthing

(informal) the genuine thing: Are you sure it’s the real thing (= love), not just infatuation? Synthetic diamonds don’t have the quality of the real thing.
See also: real, thing
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • genuine
  • genuine article
  • come home to
  • come home to (someone or something)
  • come home to someone
  • look alike
  • go down the line
  • hanger-on
  • pond
  • big frog in a small pond
References in periodicals archive
The Amoo family still live around Aigburth and Toxteth and next month they'll be at the Philharmonic Hall in numbers for what was originally a regular tour featuring The Real Thing alongside the band Heatwave and DJ Ian Gibbons.
'Eddy can't be replaced, but we couldn't stop making music' THE REAL THING'S CHRIS AMOO TELLS JAMIE MCLOUGHLIN WHY THE BAND HAD TO CARRY ON AFTER HIS BROTHER'S SAD DEATH
First staged in the West End in 1982, The Real Thing transferred to Broadway, where it won awards including the Tony Award for Best Play in 1994.
Ain't nothing like The Real Thing for Laurence
It takes the best tribute acts from around the world (rather than just members of the public who believe they can impersonate a star) and asks them to compete in front of a live studio audience to show who truly is 'better than the real thing.'.
Better (or simply cheaper) than the real thing?
| Original vocalists in The Real Thing, Chris and Eddie Amoo and Dave Smith, are heading to Holmfirth
Back to 70s disco sound with the Real Thing
He bought them for PS10 and sold them on for PS75 - a quarter of the real thing's price.
BAD TOOTH FAKE; Dodgy drills can shatter in patients' mouths
Other notable hits from the Real Thing include Can't Get By Without You, You'll Never Know What You're Missing, Whenever You Want My Love and Can You Feel The Force.
Bevan's ALBUMS OF THE WEEK
Made up of the three original members, brothers Chris and Eddie Amoo with Dave Smith, The Real Thing perform around the UK and internationally.
THE REAL THING, DORMANS CLUB, M'BRO
THEY are one of the most popular British soul groups to emerge during the '70s and now The Real Thing are celebrating 40 years in the music business with a tour.
PREVIEW; The Real Thing St David's Hall, Cardiff
It's pounds 3, www.johnlewis.com Careful you don't mistake these quail ceramic hamster salt and pepper shakers with the real thing. They're pounds 13.99 from Cotswold Trading, cotswoldtrading.com You certainly can't win this at a fairground.
Creature comforts
In "The Real Thing," a Tony Award-winner, he gives us dazzling wit, breathtaking verbal dexterity, psychological depth, political wisdom, theatrical pyrotechnics and more layers than a mille-feuille pastry.
'The Real Thing' satisfies layer after delicious layer
Speaking at the premiere Brad Pitt said: "Bennett Miller's mandate was 'get real baseball players', you know it looked like the real thing, it is the real thing.
Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill talk about new film Moneyball
An old friend (and for a good reason--he's the real thing, and a genuine gentleman), I've always respected him because his methods are simple, make perfect sense in the actual, real world we all live in, and are easy to understand and learn.
Practical self defense
Look again--that animal in the forest may not be the real thing! Wildlife authorities in several states have introduced robotic animals to "roam" among live ones.
Robo animals
I subsequently checked with the few half a dozen or so that still serve the real thing and none of them had been approached.
Best balti competition missing key ingredient
ART: A major retrospective of one of the most revered painters of his generation, Glenn Brown, The Real Thing is the largest exhibition of his life's work to date.
Pick of the day; THE ARTS EDITOR'S PICK OF THE DAY