ring the changes

ring the changes
phrasal or ring changes
: to run through the whole range of possible variations : reiterate in exhaustive variety of expression

rings the changes on possible meanings of words — David Daiches

clever at ringing the changes with a black frock and a white one — Frances Towers

* * *

ring the changes
1. To go through all the possible permutations in ringing a peal of bells (changeˈ-ringing noun)
2. To perform a repeated action or actions in varying ways, order, etc
• • •
Main Entry: ↑change

* * *

ring the changes phrase
to make major changes to something

Let’s ring the changes and repaint the whole house.

Thesaurus: to change somethingsynonym
Main entry: ring

* * *

I
vary the ways of expressing, arranging, or doing something
Origin:
with allusion to bell-ringing and the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung
II
see change

* * *

ring the changes — see ↑ring, 3
• • •
Main Entry: ↑change
————————
ring the changes
Brit : to make changes in order to do something differently, make it more interesting, etc.

The team's manager rang the changes at halftime so that more players would have a chance to play.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑ring

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ring the changes — ► ring the changes vary the ways of doing something. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.] Main Entry: ↑change …   English terms dictionary

  • ring the changes — {v. phr.} To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. * /David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him./ * /A smart girl saves money on clothes by …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ring the changes — {v. phr.} To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. * /David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him./ * /A smart girl saves money on clothes by …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ring\ the\ changes — v. phr. To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him. A smart girl saves money on clothes by learning …   Словарь американских идиом

  • ring the changes — to make major changes to something Let s ring the changes and repaint the whole house …   English dictionary

  • ring the changes — British & Australian to make something more interesting by changing it in some way. Bored with your old look? Ring the changes with our new look hairstyles and make up! …   New idioms dictionary

  • ring the changes (with something) — ring the ˈchanges (with sth) idiom (BrE) to make changes to sth in order to have greater variety • Ring the changes with a new colour. Main entry: ↑ringidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • To ring the changes upon — Ring Ring (r[i^]ng), v. t. [imp. {Rang} (r[a^]ng) or {Rung} (r[u^]ng); p. p. {Rung}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ringing}.] [AS. hringan; akin to Icel. hringja, Sw. ringa, Dan. ringe, OD. ringhen, ringkelen. [root]19.] 1. To cause to sound, especially by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ring the changes — or ring changes phrasal to run through the range of possible variations …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ring the changes — idi a) to ring variations on a set of bells b) to range through the possible variations of something …   From formal English to slang

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