English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE
ring a bell: meaning and examples
ring a bell means sound familiar without being clearly remembered.
Aprende la expresión como una unidad fija y observa la preposición y la forma verbal en los ejemplos.
این عبارت را بهصورت یک واحد ثابت یاد بگیرید و به حرف اضافه و شکل فعل در مثالها توجه کنید.
Lerne die Wendung als feste Einheit und achte in den Beispielen auf Präposition und Verbform.
Apprenez l’expression comme une unité fixe et observez la préposition et la forme verbale dans les exemples.
Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “ring a bell” and connect it to this meaning: sound familiar without being clearly remembered.
How to use “ring a bell”
- That name rings a bell, but I can’t place it.
- Does this song ring a bell?
Common mistake: Treat “ring a bell” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.
Learn it in context
This expression belongs to Lesson 22, where you can compare it with other idioms about knowledge and practise it interactively.
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