bells
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of bells
1965–70; by shortening of the full phrase, as in shorts from short pants
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those famous bells last rung out in honour of a Ferrari world champion in 2007, when Finn Kimi Raikkonen won his only title by a single point.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Ohtani threw about 20 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and wasn’t 100%, and that set off alarm bells with the Dodgers’ bosses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
"Given the significant role Walmart plays in the lives of many Americans, the deterioration will set some alarm bells ringing over whether the consumer is running out of steam," Saunders said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
That saves time and money for network operators who don’t want or need an operating system with lots of bells and whistles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
You should have heard the bells ring out.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
