ring true

From the sound of a coin when tested for authenticity.

• Audio (General Australian):

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ring true (third-person singular simple present rings true, present participle ringing true, simple past rang true, past participle rung true)

1. (idiomatic) To seem to be correct, or plausible

   His excuse about his daughter being ill again rings true, to me.

• ring false
• ring hollow

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