bell

bell, book, and candle a formula for laying a curse on someone.

☞ This expression alludes to the closing words of the rite of excommunication, 'Do to the book, quench the candle, ring the bell', meaning that the service book is closed, the candle put out, and the passing bell rung, as a sign of spiritual death.

bell the cat take the danger of a shared enterprise upon yourself.

☞ Bell the cat alludes to the fable in which mice or rats have the idea of hanging a bell around the cat's neck so as to have warning of its approach, the only difficulty being to find one of their number willing to undertake the task.

bells and smells used depreciatively to denote the Anglo-Catholic or High Church wing of the Church of England.

☞ The allusion is to the altar bells and incense used in Roman Catholic services.

bells and whistles attractive additional features or trimmings. informal

☞ The bells and whistles originally referred to were those found on old fairground organs. Nowadays, the phrase is often used in computing jargon to mean 'attractive but superfluous facilities'.

as clear (or sound) as a bell perfectly clear (or sound).

1993Independent We spent a few thousand on redecoration, but basically the place was sound as a bell.

give someone a bell telephone someone. British informal

hell's bells: seehell.

ring a bell revive a distant recollection; sound familiar. informal

saved by the bell: seesaved.

with bells on enthusiastically. North American informal

1989Mary GordonThe Other Side So, everybody's waiting for you with bells on.