# will the real someone please stand up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/will-the-real-someone-please-stand-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A request for the real person or thing to be identified from among others that are similar.

## Examples

- 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?

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.