Interesting, Ted...

I never heard "with bells on" used in context meaning to be "on time." The only way I've heard it used contextually was to convey the excitement of the moment. "I'll be arriving at 8:00 p.m." "Great! I'll be there with bells on!" Even in that context, I wouldn't have taken the meaning to be "on time" as much as being there with the enthusiasm someone mentioned above. But, I could be wrong. Nothing new.

Helen, your museum story about the bells information is very interesting. I wonder what other sources might back it up?


I wonder what the OED has to say about the phrase? Where's tsuwm?