out of central casting

English

Etymology

From Central Casting, an American company that specializes in casting extras, body doubles, and stand-ins.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

out of central casting

1. (idiomatic) Conforming to the stereotypical image of a particular type of person or group.
   • 2006, Richard Matturro, Luna, Livingtson Press, →ISBN, page 92:

     "Do I or do I not have the quintessential in-laws? I swear they're right out of central casting. A blowhard brother-in-law, bratty kids, and a sourpuss mother-in-law wide as a billboard. […]

   • 2008, Holly Chamberlain, Tuscan Holiday‎, Kensington Books, →ISBN:

     Frank Grandin was straight out of central casting, the pompous, self-important, narrow-minded, big businessman, from his full head of suspiciously jet-black hair right down to the oversized gold watch on his wrist.

   • 2013, Linda Clark, "The Bhagwan's 93 Rolls-Royces", in Keith Martin, Strange but True Tales of Car Collecting: Drowned Bugattis, Buried Belvederes, Felonious Ferraris and other Wild Stories of Automotive Misadventure, Motorbooks (2013), →ISBN, unnumbered page:

     As cult leaders go, Rajneesh was straight out of central casting. His preferred garb was a satin-trimmed velvet robe and shoes, usually adorned with expensive jewelry.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:out of central casting.

Synonyms

• from central casting

See also

• look the part