dead good
/dɛd ɡʊd/
CommonReally good. 'Dead' is used as an intensifier meaning 'very' in northern British dialects.
Almost exclusively British, most natural in northern England. The intensifier 'dead' is interchangeable with 'well' or 'proper' in the same dialects. Not used to describe mortality.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | that film was dead good tbh | The film was genuinely enjoyable. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | the pizza place near mine is dead good, go there all the time | The speaker recommends a restaurant they genuinely like. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | she's dead funny once you get to know her | The person has a great sense of humour once you know them better. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | new shoes are dead comfy. worth every penny | The shoes are very comfortable and the speaker has no regrets buying them. | x, 2022 |
Use it when
- Expressing genuine enthusiasm for something.
- Complimenting food, a film, a person, or an event.
- Casual conversation where you want to sound natural and local.
Do not use it when
- You mean something is only okay or average.
- Writing something formal or professional.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Northern British English, particularly Scouse (Liverpool) and Mancunian dialects. The use of 'dead' as an intensifier is well-documented in regional British English going back many decades.
- First seen
- mid-20th century
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/dead-goodUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0