ring a bell

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ring a bell (third-person singular simple present rings a bell, present participle ringing a bell, simple past rang a bell, past participle rung a bell)

1. (informal, idiomatic) To seem at least vaguely familiar.

   His face rings a bell. I wonder if I know him from somewhere.

2. (informal, idiomatic) To spark a previously forgotten memory.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ring,‎ a,‎ bell.

• Ballinger, reballing