To ring the changes on

To ring the changes on
Change Change, n. [F. change, fr. changer. See {Change}. v. t.] 1. Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles. [1913 Webster]

Apprehensions of a change of dynasty. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. --Job xiv. 14. [1913 Webster]

2. A succesion or substitution of one thing in the place of another; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. [1913 Webster]

Our fathers did for change to France repair. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

The ringing grooves of change. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

3. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon. [1913 Webster]

4. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation. [1913 Webster]

5. That which makes a variety, or may be substituted for another. [1913 Webster]

Thirty change (R.V. changes) of garments. --Judg. xiv. 12. [1913 Webster]

6. Small money; the money by means of which the larger coins and bank bills are made available in small dealings; hence, the balance returned when payment is tendered by a coin or note exceeding the sum due. [1913 Webster]

7. [See {Exchange}.] A place where merchants and others meet to transact business; a building appropriated for mercantile transactions. [Colloq. for Exchange.] [1913 Webster]

8. A public house; an alehouse. [Scot.] [1913 Webster]

They call an alehouse a change. --Burt. [1913 Webster]

9. (Mus.) Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than that of the diatonic scale. [1913 Webster]

Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing. --Holder. [1913 Webster]

{Change of life}, the period in the life of a woman when menstruation and the capacity for conception cease, usually occurring between forty-five and fifty years of age.

{Change ringing}, the continual production, without repetition, of changes on bells, See def. 9. above.

{Change wheel} (Mech.), one of a set of wheels of different sizes and number of teeth, that may be changed or substituted one for another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc.

{To ring the changes on}, to present the same facts or arguments in variety of ways.

Syn: Variety; variation; alteration; mutation; transition; vicissitude; innovation; novelty; transmutation; revolution; reverse. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ring the changes (with something) — ring the ˈchanges (with sth) idiom (BrE) to make changes to sth in order to have greater variety • Ring the changes with a new colour. Main entry: ↑ringidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • ring the changes — ► ring the changes vary the ways of doing something. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.] Main Entry: ↑change …   English terms dictionary

  • ring the changes — phrasal or ring changes : to run through the whole range of possible variations : reiterate in exhaustive variety of expression rings the changes on possible meanings of words David Daiches clever at ringing the changes with a black frock and a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ring the changes — {v. phr.} To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. * /David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him./ * /A smart girl saves money on clothes by …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ring the changes — {v. phr.} To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. * /David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him./ * /A smart girl saves money on clothes by …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ring\ the\ changes — v. phr. To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him. A smart girl saves money on clothes by learning …   Словарь американских идиом

  • ring the changes — to make major changes to something Let s ring the changes and repaint the whole house …   English dictionary

  • ring the changes — British & Australian to make something more interesting by changing it in some way. Bored with your old look? Ring the changes with our new look hairstyles and make up! …   New idioms dictionary

  • To ring the changes upon — Ring Ring (r[i^]ng), v. t. [imp. {Rang} (r[a^]ng) or {Rung} (r[u^]ng); p. p. {Rung}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ringing}.] [AS. hringan; akin to Icel. hringja, Sw. ringa, Dan. ringe, OD. ringhen, ringkelen. [root]19.] 1. To cause to sound, especially by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ring the changes — or ring changes phrasal to run through the range of possible variations …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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