ring someone's bell

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

1. (idiomatic) To physically traumatize someone with a strong blow, especially a concussive blow to the head.
   • 1981 May 5, “Heads Up in the Outfield”, in St. Petersburg Evening Independent, retrieved 19 Jan. 2010, page 4C:

     Braves outfielder Eddie Miller was struck in the head with an object thrown from the left field seats. . . . Braves manager Bobby Cox said Miller was more dazed than hurt. "It stung him pretty good, it rang his bell," Cox said.

   • 2003 October 11, Tom Singer, “Redman delivers quality start”, in MLB.com, retrieved 19 Jan. 2010:

     Redman took Kenny Lofton's left shoulder on his jaw and saw every color of the rainbow but teal. "That sent me down. I was kinda dizzy," Redman said . . . "You take a shot like that, it's going to ring your bell a bit."

2. (idiomatic) To please; to satisfy greatly.
   • 2012, Melvin Ricks, To Die Before You Die::

     My normal lack of confidence with women is quickly forgotten when I meet one who rings my bell.

   • 2013 -, Savannah Rain, Shattered Family:

     Edna's frequent exact words were, “He rings my bell,” along with other similar crude statements.

   • 2014, Mary Jane Sterling, Trigonometry For Dummies, page 3:

     What's in a book on trigonometry that'll ring your bell or strike your fancy or just make you pretty happy?

• (traumatize): knock out, stagger, stun
• (please): tickle someone's fancy

• ring one's bell