ring a bell
To seem at least vaguely familiar.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“That name rings a bell, but I can't place it.”
“The song they played in the café rang a bell — I think my mother used to sing it.”
“When the detective mentioned the small coastal town, something rang a bell, though she could not yet say why.”
- 01
bear away the bell
To be superior in something.
- 02
bell out
To open out into a bell shape.
- 03
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 04
bells and whistles
Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.
- 05
give someone a ring
To place a telephone call to someone.
- 06
hold the ring
To oversee a situation while attempting to remain uninvolved in it.
- 07
kiss someone's ring
To give respect or reverence to someone; to express servitude to someone.
- 08
lose the bell
To be defeated in a contest.
Last updated August 10, 2026