Chrysti The Wordsmith: With Bells On

Greetings and welcome to Christie the wordsmith. A friend calls to invite you to a party she promises good food fine wine live music and jolly company and you tell her that you'll be there with bells on. You've responded with a classic American idiom telegraphing your enthusiasm for the event you're telling your host that not only will you attend. You also aim to enjoy yourself and want to contribute to the festivities every American English speaker is familiar with the expression to be there with bells on. But here is a phrase in search of itself. Lexicographers cannot concur on its origin. Phr. dictionaries offer diverse theories Christine ammer editor of The American Heritage Dictionary of idioms writes this metaphoric expression alludes to decorating oneself or one's clothing with little bells for some special performance or occasion. A well-known nursery rhyme from the 18th century has seen a fine lady upon a white horse rings on her fingers and bells on her toes and she shall have music wherever she goes.

Robert Hendrickson and his encyclopedia of word and phrase origins asserts early 18th century Conestoga wagons usually arrived at their destinations with bronze bells ringing giving rise to this American ism. Other sources riff on these same themes for the origin of the phrase to be there with bells on. So pick your favorite theory and use the phrase with glee. I'm Christie the wordsmith. Good day for the horse. CHRISTIE The wordsmith is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Zoot enterprises a high tech firm in Bozeman Montana offering challenging careers and innovative solutions for the financial services industry sued web dot com.