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Ring a Bell

What Does "Ring a Bell" Mean?

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"Ring a bell" is an English idiom. It means "to sound familiar or remind someone of something, often referring to a name, place, or situation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "ring a bell" used in a sentence:
  • The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it; it did ring a bell, though.
  • When he described the incident, it immediately rang a bell, and I recalled the news story.
  • The old photograph didn't ring a bell until I realized it was taken during our family reunion.
meaning for ring a bell

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Ring a Bell" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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