ring true
To seem to be correct, or plausible
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His excuse does not ring true to me.”
“Her advice about saving money always seems to ring true.”
“Does this old legend ring true to you?”
“I listened to his explanation of the accident, but something about the story did not ring true.”
“The witness's description of the events began to ring true once the police found the missing security footage.”
“Even though the movie is a work of fiction, the characters' emotions ring true to anyone who has lost a friend.”
“The author's description of life in a small town rings true because she grew up in a place just like the one in her book.”
“Although the politician spoke with great confidence, his promises failed to ring true to the skeptical audience gathered in the hall.”
The idiom derives from the practice of dropping a coin onto a hard surface to test its authenticity by the sound produced. A genuine coin of precious metal would ring with a clear, resonant tone, whereas a counterfeit composed of base metals would emit a dull, discordant thud. The quality of the vibration served as the primary diagnostic for the coin's integrity.
- 01
for real and for true
Genuinely; truly.
- 02
give someone a ring
To place a telephone call to someone.
- 03
hold the ring
To oversee a situation while attempting to remain uninvolved in it.
- 04
kiss someone's ring
To give respect or reverence to someone; to express servitude to someone.
- 05
make the welkin ring
To celebrate or revel.
- 06
ring a bell
To seem at least vaguely familiar.
- 07
ring down the curtain
To end something.
- 08
ring false
To seem to be incorrect, or implausible.
Last updated August 10, 2026