with bells on

Idioms  

1. Ready to celebrate, eagerly, as in Of course I'll come; I'll be there with bells on. This metaphoric expression alludes to decorating oneself or one's clothing with little bells for some special performance or occasion. A well-known nursery rhyme has: “See a fine lady upon a white horse, Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, And she shall have music wherever she goes” (in Gammer Gurton's Garland, 1784).

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Example Sentences

Threatened by Aberdeen last time and with St Mirren now, the threat is back, with bells on.

From BBC

It happened in his first incarnation and it happened again, with bells on, over the last year.

From BBC

A stage version of “9 to 5” landed in 2009 starring Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Allison Janney, and the 1993 Christmas special “Candles, Snow & Mistletoe” contained her song “With Bells On.”

From Seattle Times

In general, I love the festive, frantic busyness of December — all those windblown and perennially overcommitted New Yorkers careening toward the holidays and the fresh calendar year waiting just beyond with bells on.

From New York Times

He whispered across Mama to me, “I am here with bells on!”

From Literature