to ring false (hollow)

  • 1ring false — ring ˈtrue/ˈhollow/ˈfalse idiom to give the impression of being sincere/true or not sincere/true • It may seem a strange story but it rings true to me. Main entry: ↑ringidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 2ring false — verb To seem to be incorrect, or implausible His excuse about his car breaking down again rings false, to me. Syn: ring hollow Ant: ring true …

    Wiktionary

  • 3ring — I n. circular band 1) a diamond; gold; sapphire ring 2) an earring; engagement; signet; wedding ring 3) a key; napkin; teething ring 4) a piston ring 5) smoke rings (to blow smoke rings) 6) (misc.) to wear a ring on one s finger group 7) a… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 4ring hollow — phrase to sound false or not sincere The company’s claim that it is an unwitting participant rings hollow. Thesaurus: to seem unreal or untruesynonym Main entry: ring * * * ring ˈtrue/ˈhollow/ˈfalse idiom to give the impression of being sinc …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 5ring true — To sound genuine (like a tested coin) • • • Main Entry: ↑ring * * * ring true phrase to sound true or sincere It was a possible explanation, but it didn’t quite ring true. Thesaurus: to be true or believablesynonym …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 6ring hollow — to seem dishonest, not true, or wrong. The Rockets sounded like a defeated team they talked of the possibility of a comeback, but the words rang hollow. Her characters and situations all ring false and her movie just seems painful and pointless.… …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 7ring hollow — verb To seem to be false or implausible; to be unconvincing. In his own ears the words he spoke rang hollow, awkward, even impertinent. He could say nothing which did not seem hideously supercilious. Syn: ring false Ant: ring true …

    Wiktionary

  • 8ring true — verb To seem to be correct, or plausible His excuse about his daughter being ill again rings true, to me. Ant: ring false, ring hollow …

    Wiktionary

  • 9ring — ring1 ringless, adj. ringlike, adj. /ring/, n., v., ringed, ringing. n. 1. a typically circular band of metal or other durable material, esp. one of gold or other precious metal, often set with gems, for wearing on the finger as an ornament, a… …

    Universalium

  • 10ring (past tense rang) — ring1 (past tense rang [ ræŋ ] ; past participle rung [ rʌŋ ] ) verb *** 1. ) transitive to make a bell produce a sound: He rang the doorbell. a ) intransitive if a bell rings, it produces a sound: A bell rang and the children trooped back into… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English