will the real someone please stand up
A request for the real person or thing to be identified from among others that are similar.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“There are many fake accounts here; will the real owner please stand up?”
“We have received several conflicting reports about the accident, so will the real witness please stand up?”
“After three different people claimed they found the lost wallet, the manager asked if the real owner would please stand up and describe the contents.”
“In a room full of people claiming credit for the discovery, the lead scientist finally asked, will the real author of this research please stand up?”
The phrase originates from the 1950s television panel show To Tell the Truth. At the conclusion of each episode, three contestants would attempt to convince a panel of celebrities that they were a specific person of interest; once the panel had cast their votes, the host would utter the line to prompt the actual subject to identify themselves. The request for the real individual to stand up transitioned from a procedural cue for contestants into a standard English idiom for seeking the genuine article amidst impostors.
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
best pleased
displeased, upset, disgruntled
- 04
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 05
blow this pop stand
To exit or remove oneself from a less than exciting location or environment.
- 06
blow this Popsicle stand
To leave a place, often with anger or anticipation of going somewhere more exciting.
- 07
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 08
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
Last updated August 10, 2026