# Origin of the phrase "with bells on"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-with-bells-on/72898>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 18, 2001, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-with-bells-on/72898 "2001-07-18T06:16:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Danielle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Danielle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielle)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-with-bells-on/72898/1 "2001-07-18T06:16:55Z")

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Hi,

Can anyone tell me where the phrase “I’ll be there with bells on” came from? What is the origin of that phrase? I can’t find it anywhere.

Thank you,  
Danielle

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-with-bells-on/72898/2 "2001-07-18T11:54:14Z")

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[http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000519](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000519) says that the origin isn’t clear, but offers some theories.

My _Lighter_ cites it in phrases from 1899, and it seems that it was a popular expression around the first decade of the last century.