This
database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available.
American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time.
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Rings a Bell
What does Rings a Bell mean? | To sound familiar, to spark a memory. | I don't remember meeting him, but the name John Smith rings a bell.
Bells such as the type used in churches are large and loud. Their sound can be heard from a great distance. Bells sound a single, clear note so their sound is distinctive and not easily confused.
Before electric sirens and amplification systems, bells were a valuable means of signaling people and alerting of important events.
Further, accurate timepieces were not always as available as they are today. Bells were used to signal people of the start of events such as a church session, the start of school, or a celebration. The bells acted as a reminder of the start of the event for people who had an out of synch timepiece or no timepiece.
Someone would literally ring a bell as a reminder.
As an aside bells were later used on clocks to mark the hour. A large clock usually in the town square could be heard throughout the town. This clock acted as a master time reference for the town. The hourly bell ringing gave people an opportunity to synchronize their respective timepieces, and early watches required frequent adjustment. |
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Some Random Idioms
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give (someone) the green light
What does "give (someone) the green light" mean? | to give someone permission to proceed with a project | We were given the green light to begin the new project.
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for life
What does "for life" mean? | for the remainder of one's life | They got married last year and they plan to stay married for life.
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royal treatment
What does "royal treatment" mean? | very good treatment | My parents received the royal treatment when they went to visit their relatives.
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coffee break
What does "coffee break" mean? | a break from work to rest and drink coffee/tea | We usually have a coffee break every morning at 10 o`clock.
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go scot-free/get off scot-free
What does "go scot-free/get off scot-free" mean? | go unpunished or be acquitted of a crime | The lawyer was able to get off scot-free in the case involving his illegal transactions.
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swear (someone) in
What does "swear (someone) in" mean? | to have a person promise to do his duty as a member of an organization or in a formal position. | The new mayor of the city was sworn in at a large ceremony last evening.
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