dummy
gb/dˈʌmi/ us/dˈʌmi/
A2
English
~ 8600
hülye, tökfej, bábu, cumi, fiktív, teszt, makett, asztal, terített kéz, cselez, cselt csinál
NOUN
A2
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
call [someone] a dummy
I locked my keys in the car again—I'm such a dummy.
Már megint bezártam a kulcsaimat a kocsiba — mekkora hülye vagyok.
Don't be a dummy; save your work before you close the program.
Ne légy hülye; mentsd el a munkádat, mielőtt bezárod a programot.
He felt like a dummy when he realized the answer was on the first page.
Stop acting like a dummy and listen to what she's saying.
Learner examples
I was a dummy and forgot my passport.
Hülye voltam, és otthon felejtettem az útlevelemet.
Don't call your sister a dummy. It's rude.
Ne nevezd a lánytestvéredet hülyének. Ez udvariatlan.
He looked like a dummy when he asked the same question again.
She thinks she is a dummy at math, but she is not.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the object sense (a model or a toy). When talking about a person being stupid, "dummy" is usually used with a person: "He is a dummy," not "He is a dummy toy." Also, it is informal and can sound rude, so it should not be used in polite situations.
Meaning
a stupid or silly person
Collocations
you dummy
|such a dummy
|act like a dummy
|be a total dummy
Synonyms
idiot (Stronger and often ruder than "dummy"; sounds more insulting.)
Antonyms
genius (Describes someone extremely intelligent, the opposite of a "dummy".)
Themes
people
|insults
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
A person who seems stupid or does something very silly.
A person regarded as stupid, slow to understand, or behaving in a very foolish way.
NOUN
B1
2
bábu
B1
Usage pattern:
put clothes on a dummy
The dress looked amazing on the dummy in the shop window.
A ruha csodásan mutatott a kirakati bábun.
They practiced CPR on a dummy before working with real patients.
Újraélesztést gyakoroltak egy bábun, mielőtt valódi betegekkel dolgoztak volna.
A crash-test dummy is strapped into the car to measure the impact of the collision.
The designer pinned the fabric to a tailor's dummy to adjust the fit.
Learner examples
The new coat is on a dummy in the window.
Az új kabát egy bábun van a kirakatban.
Students use a dummy to learn how to help sick people.
A diákok bábun tanulják meg, hogyan segítsenek a beteg embereken.
The car company uses a dummy to test safety.
The tailor puts the jacket on a dummy to check the size.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "dummy" in this sense only means a shop model. It also includes training models in medicine or safety and models used in crash tests.
Meaning
life-sized model of a person
Collocations
shop dummy
|store dummy
|tailor's dummy
|training dummy
|crash-test dummy
Synonyms
mannequin (More formal and common in written English, especially in fashion and retail.)
Antonyms
person (A real human being, as opposed to a model or dummy.)
Themes
shopping
|work
|science
|clothing
Definition
A full-size model of a person, used in shops, training, or tests.
A life-sized model of a human body used to display clothes, practice procedures, or test things.
NOUN
A2
3
cumi
A2
Usage pattern:
give [a baby] a dummy
The baby stopped crying as soon as she gave him his dummy.
A baba rögtön abbahagyta a sírást, amint odaadta neki a cumiját.
We forgot to pack a dummy, so the flight was very stressful.
Elfelejtettünk cumit csomagolni, ezért nagyon stresszes volt a repülőút.
She finally persuaded her daughter to sleep without a dummy.
He spat out his dummy and started screaming again.
Learner examples
The baby is quiet because he has a dummy.
A baba csendben van, mert cumi van a szájában.
She put the dummy in the baby's mouth.
Betette a cumit a baba szájába.
They want the child to stop using a dummy at night.
The baby cries when he loses his dummy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "dummy" for this meaning in American English contexts, where "pacifier" is the normal word. In the US, "dummy" is almost never used for a baby's pacifier.
Meaning
baby's pacifier (BrE, AusE)
Collocations
give the baby a dummy
|suck on a dummy
|spit out the dummy
|lose his dummy
Synonyms
pacifier (Standard term in American English; more common globally in written medical contexts.)
Antonyms
bottle (A bottle feeds a baby, while a dummy only comforts; often contrasted in childcare contexts.)
Themes
family
|children
|health
|daily_life
|body
Definition
A small rubber or plastic thing that a baby sucks to feel calm; in British and Australian English.
A rubber or plastic object given to a baby to suck for comfort instead of a bottle or thumb. Used mainly in British and Australian English.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
dummy [noun]
Use a dummy email address when you sign up for testing.
A teszteléshez használj fiktív e-mail-címet a regisztrációkor.
The designer created a dummy website to show the client the new layout.
A tervező létrehozott egy tesztweboldalt, hogy megmutassa az ügyfélnek az új elrendezést.
We filled the form with dummy data before the real system went live.
In the textbook, they use a dummy number to explain the formula.
Learner examples
Please use dummy names in this test.
Kérlek, ebben a tesztben fiktív neveket használjatok.
The company made a dummy app to show the idea.
A cég készített egy tesztalkalmazást, hogy bemutassa az ötletet.
We tried a dummy order before we used real money.
This is only dummy text, not the final article.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "dummy" here means "stupid" because of the insult sense. In phrases like "dummy account" or "dummy data," it only means "not real" or "test," not "stupid."
Meaning
fake or placeholder version
Collocations
dummy account
|dummy variable
|dummy text
|dummy data
|dummy number
|dummy email address
Synonyms
fake ("Fake" is more general and can suggest dishonesty, while "dummy" usually means a neutral test or example version.)
Antonyms
real (Describes the actual thing, not a copy or placeholder.)
Themes
technology
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not real, used as a copy or example for practice, tests, or plans.
Not real, and used instead of the real thing for practice, testing, planning, or to hide the real thing.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
5
makett
B2
Usage pattern:
make a dummy of [something]
The art director asked for a dummy of the magazine before printing.
A művészeti vezető nyomtatás előtt kérte a magazin makettjét.
They built a cardboard dummy of the product to test the size and shape.
Kartonból készítettek egy makettet a termékről, hogy teszteljék a méretét és az alakját.
We showed the client a dummy of the website homepage.
The publisher approved the dummy and sent the book to press.
Learner examples
The designer made a dummy of the poster.
A tervező elkészítette a plakát makettjét.
This is just a dummy; the real product will be better.
Ez csak egy makett; a végleges termék jobb lesz.
Please check the dummy before we print 1,000 copies.
They use a paper dummy to plan the pages of the book.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this noun sense with the adjective use in "dummy text" or "dummy account." As a noun, "a dummy" is the whole sample object, not just any fake part.
Meaning
practice or sample version
Collocations
make a dummy
|rough dummy
|layout dummy
|book dummy
|magazine dummy
Synonyms
mock-up (Very close in meaning; "mock-up" is a bit more common in design and engineering.)
Antonyms
final version (The completed, finished product, not a test or sample version.)
Themes
business
|media
|technology
Definition
A test copy of something, like a book, page, or ad, used to plan or show the final product.
A practice or sample version of a document, product, or design used to test, plan, or show how the real one will look or work.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
asztal
C2
terített kéz
C2
Usage pattern:
play from dummy
After the opening lead, North put dummy down on the table.
Az indító kijátszás után Észak felfordítva letette a lapjait az asztalra.
Declarer studied the dummy for a moment before planning the play.
A felvevő egy pillanatig az asztalt tanulmányozta, mielőtt megtervezte a lejátszást.
With such a strong dummy, they easily made the contract.
The dummy had no trumps left, so he ruffed in hand.
Learner examples
In bridge, one player is the dummy.
Bridzsben az egyik játékos az úgynevezett asztal.
The dummy puts all the cards face up on the table.
Az asztal minden lapját felfordítva teszi le.
The partner plays the dummy's cards.
They looked at the dummy to plan the game.
Common mistake:
Learners may translate "dummy" here as "stupid person," which is wrong. In bridge, "dummy" is a neutral technical term for the open hand and the player who shows their cards.
Meaning
exposed hand in bridge
Collocations
put dummy down
|play from dummy
|declarer's dummy
|dummy on the table
Synonyms
exposed hand (Descriptive phrase sometimes used to explain the concept, but "dummy" is the standard bridge term.)
Antonyms
hidden hand (Refers to a hand that is still held and not exposed on the table.)
Themes
games
|leisure
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In bridge, the cards of the player who puts their hand face up on the table and lets their partner play it.
In the card game bridge, the hand of cards belonging to the declarer’s partner, which is laid face up on the table and played by the declarer.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
7
cselez
B1
cselt csinál
B2
Usage pattern:
[player] dummies [opponent]
The striker dummied the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the empty net.
A csatár kicselezte a kapust, majd az üres kapuba pöccintette a labdát.
She dummied to pass left, then sprinted past the defender on the right.
Úgy tett, mintha balra passzolna, aztán jobb oldalon elfutott a védő mellett.
He dummied the shot, sending the defender the wrong way.
The winger dummied his marker before crossing the ball.
Learner examples
The player dummied the defender and scored.
A játékos kicselezte a védőt, és gólt szerzett.
He dummied to pass and then ran with the ball.
Úgy tett, mintha passzolna, aztán továbbfutott a labdával.
She dummied the shot to trick the other team.
They learn how to dummy in football practice.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the noun "dummy" meaning a stupid person. As a verb in sports, it has nothing to do with intelligence; it means to fake a move.
Meaning
to feint in sports
Collocations
dummy the defender
|dummy the keeper
|dummy to pass
|dummy inside
|dummy the shot
Synonyms
feint (More formal and often used in written sports reports; "dummy" is very common in football/rugby speech.)
Antonyms
play straight (To play honestly without pretending, not trying to deceive the opponent with a fake move.)
Themes
sports
|movement
Definition
In sports, to make a move that looks real but is not, so you can trick another player.
In ball sports, to pretend to pass, shoot, or move in one direction in order to deceive an opponent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dummy
IPA
GB/dˈʌmi/
US/dˈʌmi/
Syllables & stress
dummy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dummy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dummy
- Plural: dummies
Word family
Forms
dummies
noun
Related words
dumb
adjective B1
Expressions
crash-test dummy
1/kɹˈæʃ tˈɛst dˈʌmi/
fixed phrase
technical
model used in car crash tests
A life-size model of a person that is put in a car during tests to see how safe the car is in a crash.
Examples
- The crash-test dummy recorded the forces on the body during the impact.
- Modern crash-test dummies are packed with sensors to measure injuries.
dummy run
1/dˈʌmi ɹˈʌn/
fixed phrase
practice attempt before real event
A practice time when you do something in the same way as the real event, to check that everything works well.
Examples
- We did a dummy run of the presentation the day before the conference.
- The team carried out a dummy run to test the emergency plan.
dummy text
1/dˈʌmi tˈɛkst/
fixed phrase
technical
placeholder text for layout
Text that is not real content, used only to show how a page, website, or design will look.
Examples
- The designer filled the page with dummy text to show the client the layout.
- This is just dummy text, not the final article.
dummy up
1/dˈʌmi ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
stop talking or give no information
To become silent and refuse to talk or give information, especially when asked questions.
Examples
- When the police started asking questions, he dummied up.
- She dummied up whenever the topic of money came up.
dummy variable
1/dˈʌmi vˈɛɹiəbəl/
fixed phrase
technical
placeholder or category variable
In math, statistics, or computing, a variable that does not have its own real value but is used to show a category or to stand in for something in a formula or test.
Examples
- The model includes a dummy variable for gender.
- Programmers often use a dummy variable while testing a function.
throw one's dummy out of the pram
1/θɹˈoʊ wˈʌnz dˈʌmi ˈaʊt əv ðə pɹˈæm/
idiom
informal
overreact in a childish way
To become very angry or upset in a childish way, usually over something small.
Examples
- He threw his dummy out of the pram when his idea was rejected.
- Don't throw your dummy out of the pram just because they disagreed with you.
spit the dummy
1/spˈɪt ðə dˈʌmi/
idiom
informal
overreact angrily like a child
To suddenly get very angry and act like a small child when something doesn’t go your way. (Mainly Australian and British English.)
Examples
- He really spat the dummy when they cancelled the project.
- He spat the dummy when they refused his request.
- There's no need to spit the dummy just because you lost the game.
- Don’t spit the dummy just because you didn’t win.
- She spat the dummy and walked out of the meeting.