Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to ring hollow

to ring hollow

4 8.2
To sound not sincere or true to people
  • phrasal verb
  • /rɪŋ ˈhɑloʊ/
translation icon : sonar vacío
  • Although the president spoke longer than his rival, his words often rambled and rang hollow.

But if they're not doing it, it's kind of rings hollow, doesn't it?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Phrases such as "democracy promotion" ring hollow in the post-Iraq era.

    Academic text (2008)

  • "These words ring hollow without the greater integration of women into Church structures and decision-making processes."

    Academic text (2010)

  • Sorry, but your explanation rings hollow to me.

    Blog text (2)

  • As one of the 1%ers, your argument rings hollow, since I'm sure you pay little or no federal tax.

    Blog text (19)

  • The problem with that is that your attacks on the minority party for holding up business will ring hollow when the very next bill is consensual.

    Blog text (14)

  • But his reasoning rings hollow as he gets out of the car and walks wearily up the marble steps of the porch to enter his other world.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Thus, Alexander Hamilton's defense of life tenure in Federalist No. 78 rings hollow today.

    Academic text (2006)

  • He repeated the line about "caring for the 100%" after that, but it rang hollow and untrue.

    Blog text (2)

  • By the same token, if the suspense of waiting for clarification is greater than the perceived depth and novelty of the final report, the project will ring hollow.

    Academic text (2006)

  • "You'll be back on your feet in no time." The words rang hollow, even to her.

Synonyms

to ring false
vsto ring hollow
2 7.0

To seem untrue or not honest

is less convincing because it lacks real value or sincerity
to lack truthiness
vsto ring hollow
  • US
9.7

To seem not true or honest even when it sounds convincing

point to being insincere and lacking real truth or value

Antonyms

to ring true
  • Informal
24 4.2

To seem real and believable

How Convincing

to ring true
  • Informal
24 4.2
plausible
129 7.2
to ring hollow
4 8.2

Surface Forms

ring hollow infinitive
ringing hollow present participle
rings hollow third person singular
rang hollow past
rung hollow past participle

Morphology

ring + hollow

The meaning derives from a metaphorical composition: 'ring' in the sense 'to sound' plus 'hollow' meaning 'empty' gives 'to sound empty or insincere', so a learner who knows both senses can often infer the MWE. However, the verb use of 'ring' and the idiomatic phrasing may not be fully predictable for all B1 learners without exposure, making it only partly transparent.

Etymology

Ring hollow may come from the image of a bell that rings but sounds hollow and empty, giving a weak, false sound. That's why when words or promises 'ring hollow' they feel 'insincere' or untrue.