ding-dong

See also: dingdong, and ding dong

English

Alternative forms

• ding dong, dingdong

Etymology

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

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Adjective

ding-dong (not comparable)

1. (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

ding-dong (plural ding-dongs)

1. One of several sounds that might be made by a bell.

   Coordinate terms: jingle, tinkle; bong, dong; gong

   Near-synonym: ding-a-ling

2. (slang) A woman's breast.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:breasts

3. (slang) A penis.

   Synonyms: ding-a-ling, schlong; see also 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

4. (slang) A fight, an argument; a set-to.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fight

5. (slang) An idiot.

   Synonyms: ding-a-ling, dingbat; see also Thesaurus:idiot

6. An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.

Derived terms

• ding dong cart
• ding-dong ditch
• ding-dong theory

 

Translations

sound made by a bell — see ding dong

Verb

ding-dong (third-person singular simple present ding-dongs, present participle ding-donging, simple past and past participle ding-donged)

1. (intransitive) To ring with two tones, like a bell swinging back and forth.

Anagrams

• Dongding, gnodding

Welsh

Etymology

Borrowed from English ding-dong.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɪŋdɔŋ/

Noun

ding-dong m (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) a sound made by a bell

Derived terms

• bod ar y ding-dong (“to hesitate”)

References

• 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