familiar

have a familiar ring

To sound like something one has heard before. I must have read this before—the words in the opening paragraph have a familiar ring to them.

See also: familiar, have, ring

familiar with (someone or something)

Acquainted with or knowledgeable about someone or something. Yeah, I'm familiar with Bill, he seems like a good guy. I'm not familiar with that song—how's it go?

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*familiar with someone or something

to have a good knowledge of someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; get ~.) Are you familiar with changing a flat tire? I can't speak German fluently, but I'm somewhat familiar with the language.

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have a familiar ring (to it)

Fig. [for a story or an explanation] to sound familiar. Your excuse has a familiar ring. Have you done this before? This term paper has a familiar ring to it. I think it has been copied.

See also: familiar, have, ring

have a familiar ring

Sound or seem as though one has already heard of something. For example, That story has a familiar ring; I'm sure I've read it before.

See also: familiar, have, ring

have a familiar ˈring (about/to it)

sound familiar: His complaints have a familiar ring. Others have said exactly the same thing about our designs. ♢ The music in the movie had a familiar ring to it. I think it was Schumann.

See also: familiar, have, ring

in a familiar way

mod. pregnant. (Euphemistic for in a family way.) Britney is in a familiar way, have you heard?

See also: familiar, way