loud as a bell
Meaning
Very loud and ringing/resonant, like the sound of a bell.
Origin
Based on the obvious comparison to a bell’s strong, carrying, ringing sound; used as a vivid simile rather than a fixed traditional idiom.
Notes
More a descriptive simile than a set idiom. Can suggest both “carrying/clear” loudness or “annoyingly loud,” depending on context.
Examples
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She walked into the room, loud as a bell, and announced the news to everyone.
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Even without a microphone, his voice was loud as a bell across the auditorium.
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The kid was loud as a bell on the bus, talking nonstop on speakerphone.
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My alarm is loud as a bell, so there’s no way I can sleep through it.
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He may look quiet, but when he laughs, it’s loud as a bell.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically used in the simile frame “as loud as a bell.” You may also see “loud like a bell,” but it’s less idiomatic. Often modified by context (e.g., “ringing loud as a bell”).
Synonyms
- loud as thunder
- loud as hell
- ear-splitting
- deafening
Antonyms
- quiet as a mouse
- soft as a whisper