ring

1. verb, informal To contact (someone or some organization) by telephone. She rang us from Kentucky to say that she had arrived safely. I'll ring the company in the morning and see if they can expedite the delivery.

2. noun, informal A call by telephone. Used especially with the verb "give." I'll give you a ring tomorrow once I know what my plans are.

ring (one's) bells

1. To render one stunned, insensible, or unconscious, as from a physical blow or the effects of a drug. I could hear him bad-mouthing my girlfriend, so I went over and rang his bells with a single left hook to the eye. Be careful with this stuff—it will really ring your bells if you take too much at once.

2. To be keenly attractive, interesting, or exciting to one. A lot of my friends are obsessed with going out and playing basketball or soccer, but reading a good novel is what rings my bells. If I'm honest, he isn't the type of man who would normally ring my bells, but he was so affable and funny that I felt attracted to him nonetheless.

ring (one's) chimes

1. To render one stunned, insensible, or unconscious, as from a physical blow or the effects of a drug. I could hear him bad-mouthing my girlfriend, so I went over and rang his chimes with a single left hook to the eye. Be careful with this stuff—it will really ring your chimes if you take too much at once.

2. To be keenly attractive, interesting, or exciting to one. A lot of my friends are obsessed with going out and playing basketball or soccer, but reading a good novel is what rings my chimes. If I'm honest, he isn't the type of man who would normally ring my chimes, but he was so affable and funny that I felt attracted to him nonetheless.

ring (someone's)

chimes/bells Slang

To knock (an opponent) out by physical or other force.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in classic literature

It is a precious gold ring. When you marry me, I will give you this ring as a marriage gift, and it will make you the happiest of mortal men.

He was cunning enough, however, to conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, but he only asked the maiden, as if carelessly, what was remarkable about the ring?

She answered, 'No mortal is able entirely to understand the power of this ring, because no one thoroughly understands the secret signs engraved upon it.

When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts.

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"I thought I did," replied Athos; "but no doubt I was mistaken." And he returned D'Artagnan the ring without, however, ceasing to look at it.

"Pray, D'Artagnan," said Athos, after a minute, "either take off that ring or turn the mounting inside; it recalls such cruel recollections that I shall have no head to converse with you.

D'Artagnan took off the ring, giving it again to Athos.

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When Sir Richard came, he found stout William, puffed up by the shouts of his friends, walking up and down the ring, daring anyone to come and try a throw with him.

At this all laughed; but above all the laughter a loud voice was heard to cry out, "Sin' thou talkest so big, here cometh one from Nottinghamshire to try a fall with thee, fellow"; and straightway a tall youth with a tough quarterstaff in his hand came pushing his way through the crowd and at last leaped lightly over the rope into the ring. He was not as heavy as stout William, but he was taller and broader in the shoulders, and all his joints were well knit.

No law can touch me to harm me, even if I slew him, so that it was fairly done in the wrestling ring."

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"And he comes into the ring heavy with water?" said John Harned quickly; and I saw that his eyes were very gray and very sharp and very cold.

"I would that he had a fighting chance," said John Harned, facing the ring to see the second bull come in.

It ran around the ring in search of a way to get out.

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"You have heard, no doubt, that his wedding ring has been taken.

Then there's that wedding ring. You can't get past that.

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