dead giveaway
noun
: something that shows (the truth about something) clearly
The camera is a dead giveaway that you're a tourist.
Examples of dead giveaway in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boren said that the specifics of SB 726 were a dead giveaway; the goal was to favor companies at the expense of policyholders.
—
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
Those single tiles on the bottom right are a dead giveaway.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Metal tree bases are often a dead giveaway that your Douglas fir is faux, but the walled design of Anthropologie’s rattan tree skirt masterfully hides it like a holiday secret.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Players heard that song about five times, tight end Evan Engram cracked, a dead giveaway Franklin was due for a big game.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Thanks to a prosthetic leg, the gent’s gait was a dead giveaway.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Sam becomes the subject of an intense missing persons investigation and a dead giveaway for Robbie’s culpability should he be discovered by Perry (Jamie McShane), a biker gang member seeking revenge for the crime.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Asking her to go to a salon would have been a dead giveaway, so her best friend came up with an ingenious solution — press-on nails.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The vocals, normally a dead giveaway, have a robotic sheen, but the way they’re buried in the mix sounds realistic.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
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J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
Those single tiles on the bottom right are a dead giveaway.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Metal tree bases are often a dead giveaway that your Douglas fir is faux, but the walled design of Anthropologie’s rattan tree skirt masterfully hides it like a holiday secret.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Players heard that song about five times, tight end Evan Engram cracked, a dead giveaway Franklin was due for a big game.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Thanks to a prosthetic leg, the gent’s gait was a dead giveaway.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Sam becomes the subject of an intense missing persons investigation and a dead giveaway for Robbie’s culpability should he be discovered by Perry (Jamie McShane), a biker gang member seeking revenge for the crime.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Asking her to go to a salon would have been a dead giveaway, so her best friend came up with an ingenious solution — press-on nails.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The vocals, normally a dead giveaway, have a robotic sheen, but the way they’re buried in the mix sounds realistic.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dead giveaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20giveaway. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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