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sound as a bell

Idioms  
  1. In excellent condition, as in Now that the brakes have been relined, the car is sound as a bell, or The surgery went well and now he's sound as a bell. This simile rests on the assumption that the bell in question is not cracked (which would make it useless). First recorded in 1565, it has survived numerous other similes (sound as a top or roach or dollar), probably owing to its pun on “sound.”


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.

"They're fools. You're as sound as a bell. You'll bury us all!"

From Salon

"Divide, divide!" sank into reluctant silence as Audley Egerton rose to conclude the debate—the man of men to speak late at night, and to impatient benches: a man who would be heard; whom a Bedlam broke loose would not have roared down; with a voice clear and sound as a bell, and a form as firmly set on the ground as a church-tower.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am as sound as a bell," he vowed.

From Project Gutenberg

Toll, tōl, v.i. to sound, as a large bell, esp. with a measured sound, as a funeral bell.—v.t. to cause to sound, as a bell: to strike, or signal by striking.—n. the sound of a bell when tolling.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

Ring, ring, v.i. to sound as a bell when struck: to tinkle: to practise the art of ringing bells: to continue to sound: to be filled with report: to resound: to echo.—v.t. to cause to sound, as a metal: to produce by ringing:—pa.t. rang, rung; pa.p. rung.—n. a sound, esp. of metals: the sound of many voices: a chime of many bells.—ns.

From Project Gutenberg