dead giveaway

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The color of the notes is usually a dead giveaway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Scam emails often originate outside the United States, and bad grammar, spelling and syntax employed in the name of a major federal agency or charity are a dead giveaway of a scam.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023

The cameras and phony police cars — and signs saying “Free the Joker” — should have been a dead giveaway, she said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2023

And any mother facing postpartum depression, or even mild baby blues, may find it challenging to modulate her speech, leaning toward the lower, flatter tones that are often a dead giveaway of mood disorders.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2022

The bedside lamps, bolted to the tables, were a dead giveaway, as were the long drapes made from the same fabric as the bedspread, and the generic watercolor prints on the walls.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer