ding-dong ditch

American

[ding-dawng dich] / ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ ˈdɪtʃ /

noun

a prank in which participants knock on the door or ring the doorbell of a house, apartment, etc., and then run away before the occupant answers the door.

Etymology

Origin of ding-dong ditch

First recorded in 1975–80

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.

See Examples For:

ding-dong ditch

I was the kid in the neighborhood running around with no socks on, hopping over fences, playing tag, playing ding-dong ditch, like kids in the old days.

From Seattle Times ● May 12, 2023

Even if you want to ding-dong ditch me with my mail, at least I’ll walk upstairs and grab my package before a porch pirate does!

From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2021

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023