# ring a bell

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ring-a-bell
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To seem at least vaguely familiar.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.