Outrageously Funny Word Dictionary :: The ringer

👉 The Ringer is a term popular among comedy and satire creators for the phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know." In everyday language, this could be seen as meaning someone knows too much about something, being overly familiar with it.

Example: "Hey, I heard that one of your jokes was all about that 'the ringer' thing. What do you think?" - "I dunno, it's just another way to say, 'it's not what you know, it's who you know.'" - "Yeah, and if you're really into that stuff, you might want to keep your nose out of my business." This term is often used in humorous situations where someone tries to get too involved or into something they don't understand. The ringer metaphor can be used as a metaphor for knowledge, understanding, or expertise without being overly self-conscious or condescending.