with bells on

[FloridianMom]

where does the saying " I'll be there with bells on." come from? Or ' rings on her fingers, bells on her toes'?

[bernardo]

My memory says something about "ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross" and "something something wherever she goes" - try googling with those

[Ewood27]

For the second part of your question you can click here to find the origin.

[Quizmonster]

Re 'with bells on', various possible explanations have been put forward. It might be a reference to Morris-dancers or to medi�val courtiers both of which groups apparently wore (wear) bells as part of their equipment to create a merry effect.

An alternative is that it refers to wagons in the early days of America's westward expansion, which were - it seems - decorated with bells. If you still had your wagon-bells at the end of your trek, the journey must have been relatively trouble-free.

[sft42]

The line rings on her fingers, bells on her toes' also comes from the folk song "I'll tell me ma" which has been variously attributed to Glasgow, Dublin but mostly Belfast.

[Canib]

I learned in a museum of history about the Connestoga Wagons that traveled during the 1800's that this phrase was used when someone arrived at their destination and had all of their bells on their horses that the trip went well. If they had a break down along the way it was customary to give the party that helped you dig out of a ditch or fix your wheels to give them some of your bells. If you arrived with bells on then it meant your trip was problem free.