ring-a-ding

English

Etymology

Imitative.

Interjection

ring-a-ding

1. A ringing sound.

   Synonyms: ringaling, tingaling

Adjective

ring-a-ding (not comparable)

1. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (slang) Perfect.
   • 1975, Forbes - Volume 116, Issues 7-12, page 17:

     And then he was totally unprepared for his ring-a-ding winner.

   • 1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by Josh (Paul Rudd):

     So you didn't want to make a night of it with the ring-a-ding kid?

   • 2001, Jim Moore, Island of Ashes, page 136:

     Then the midnight rap about arson with his his ring-a-ding attorney.

   • 2002, John Lahr, Show and Tell: New Yorker Profiles, page 76:

     Drink played a large part in Sinatra's ring-a-ding arrogance.

   • 2004, Donald Cohen, Late Beginner, page 20:

     The brittle bones grow colder now / And the wind begins to sting / As I grow old in the family / And it aint so ring-a-ding-ding.

Alternative forms

• ringding

Further reading

• Jonathon Green (2024) “ring-a-ding adj.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang