Ring the changes


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Ring the changes'?

To employ alternative methods.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Ring the changes'?

This phrase derives from the practice of bell ringing. Each pattern of the order of striking the bells is called a change. In order to ‘ring the changes’ all the variations of striking pattern are rung, bringing the ring back to its starting point.

Bell-ringing is of course an ancient pastime and consequently the figurative use of this phrase is also old. Thomas Adams refers to it in The divells banket described in sixe sermons, 1614

“Some ring the Changes of opinions.”

The term took on another meaning in the 19th century. While acknowledging that “the expression originally came from the belfry” John C. Hotten’s A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant and Vulgar Words, 1859 glosses the meaning as:

“Ringing the Changes, changing bad money for good; in respectable society the phrase is sometimes employed to denote that the aggressor has been paid back in his own coin, as in practical joking, when the laugh is turned against the jester.”

Trend of ring the changes in printed material over time

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Ring the changes

Phrases & Meanings

A-Z

Categories

How did we do?

Have you spotted something that needs updated on this page? We review all feedback we receive to ensure that we provide the most accurate and up to date information on phrases.