a) a joke
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b) a failure
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c) a trial
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British English
A dummy run is a trial or test procedure which is carried out in order to see if a plan or process works properly. Synonyms are practice, trial, dry run, rehearsal.
French translation
essai, test, répétition
How NOT to translate : *une course de mannequins
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Examples in context
’This is not a dummy run’
THE First Minister and Deputy First Ministers have issued a stark warning as the Coronavirus crisis deepens.
Speaking during a press conference at Stormont on Monday, Arlene Foster warned that there could be a ’wave of deaths’ if people in Northern Ireland did not obey social distancing rules.
Michelle O’Neill, meanwhile, urged the public to understand that ’this is not a holiday, this is an emergency.’
Their comments come amid renewed speculation that the British government could introduce more stringent measures to tackle the ongoing crisis.’
Ballymoney Chronicle, 23 March 2020
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‘Vaccination dummy run at Schaarbeek corona testing centre
The health authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region are carrying out a dummy run of coronavirus vaccination procedures at a coronavirus testing centre in Schaarbeek.
The dry run that will last all day is designed to ensure that there won’t be any hitches once a vaccine (or vaccines) become available.’
vrt.be, 11 Dec. 2020
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Everyday usage
The local elections can be seen as a dummy run for the national election next year.
I fully understand that what they have designed is for the best—that this is a dummy run of an entirely new type of scheme.
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