Meaning & use
belle of the ball
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiomold-fashioned
The most attractive or admired woman at a party or event, or anyone who gets the most attention there.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: she was the belle of the ball. The plural is belles of the ball.
Patterns
- be the belle of the ball
In her green silk dress, Anna was the belle of the ball.
Every guest wanted to dance with the belle of the ball.
The little dog became the belle of the ball at the wedding.
Word forms
| plural | belles of the ball |
|---|
Common combinations
- be the belle of the ball
- She hoped to be the belle of the ball at graduation.
- crowned belle of the ball
- She was crowned belle of the ball by her classmates.
- feel like the belle of the ball
- The compliments made her feel like the belle of the ball.
- the belle of the ball arrived
- The belle of the ball arrived late and drew every eye.
Synonyms and how they differ
- star of the show
- Can describe a person or thing of either sex and is not limited to social events.
- center of attention
- Is neutral and may be negative, while belle of the ball is complimentary.
- toast of the town
- Describes someone widely admired across a place, not just at one party.
- life of the party
- Describes someone fun and lively, not necessarily attractive.
Opposites
Word family
- belle noun
- a beautiful woman, from French
- ball noun
- a formal dancing party
- wallflower noun
- a shy person who stays at the edge of a party
Commonly confused: belle of the ball or bell?
belle of the ball vs bell
A bell rings; belle, with an e, is a beautiful woman. They sound the same.
Practice
At the school dance, Priya's laugh and bright dress made her the ____.
Choose one answer.
Belle of the ball means the most admired person at an event. A wallflower is the opposite, someone who stays unnoticed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “belle of the ball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.