the seven bells
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: seven bells
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Used as an intensifier after an interrogative pronoun.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
That's simple enough, but why the seven bells doesn't the documentation say so? Instead it talks about resources, but nowhere defines what a resource is, or what the syntax is for describing one.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Used as an intensifier, most commonly in the seven bells or seven bells out of.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “the seven bells” mean?
Used as an intensifier after an interrogative pronoun.
Is “the seven bells” formal or informal?
the seven bells is generally slang.