ding-dong
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Mid 16th century, imitative of the alternate chimes of a bell.
For sense of penis, compare Saterland Frisian Ding (“penis”), German Low German Dings (“penis”), English thing.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective edit
ding-dong (not comparable)
- (informal) Closely fought.
- 2011 February 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 2 - 4 Chelsea”, in BBC[1]:
- It was first blood to the Black Cats in the ding-dong clash when Bardsley, a right-footer playing on the left, collected the ball from just inside his own half and sped up to the edge of the area before launching an effort which appeared to confuse Petr Cech in goal.
Noun edit
ding-dong (plural ding-dongs)
- A sound made by a bell.
- (slang) A woman's breast.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:breasts
- (slang) A penis.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:penis
- 1968, “Sister Ray”, in Lou Reed (lyrics), White Light/White Heat, performed by The Velvet Underground:
- Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time time / Too busy sucking on a ding-dong / She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
- (slang) A fight, an argument; a set-to.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fight
- (slang) An idiot.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:idiot
- An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
sound made by a bell — see ding dong
Verb edit
ding-dong (third-person singular simple present ding-dongs, present participle ding-donging, simple past and past participle ding-donged)
- (intransitive) To ring with two tones, like a bell swinging back and forth.
Anagrams edit
Welsh edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from English ding-dong.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
ding-dong m (uncountable)
Derived terms edit
- bod ar y ding-dong (“to hesitate”)
References edit
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “ding-dong”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies