carbon copy
Meaning
An exact duplicate of something, especially a document created using carbon paper, or a person or thing that closely resembles another.
Origin
Before the digital age, duplicating documents was a manual art, perfected by the humble sheet of carbon paper. Invented in the early 19th century, this thin sheet, coated with a waxy pigment, was placed between an original document and a blank page. As a pen pressed or a typewriter hammered down, the pressure transferred the ink from the carbon paper, creating an exact, indelible duplicate—a "carbon copy." This precise replication in the office environment quickly lent the phrase its broader metaphorical meaning, describing any person or thing that is an exact replica of another, carrying the legacy of a simple, yet revolutionary, office tool.
Examples
- The young actress was a carbon copy of her famous grandmother, even sharing the same distinctive voice.
- Without a photocopier, the secretary meticulously created a carbon copy of every important letter for the office archives.