Slangora

ding dong cart

Ding-dong cart is a cheerfully retro Massachusetts term for an ice cream truck — the slow-rolling vehicle that cruises residential streets in summer, broadcasting its jingle to lure children outside with change in their fists.

ˈdɪŋ ˈdɔŋ ˈkɑɹt68 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
Community

Definitions

#1·Apr 28, 2026

Ding-dong cart is a cheerfully retro Massachusetts term for an ice cream truck — the slow-rolling vehicle that cruises residential streets in summer, broadcasting its jingle to lure children outside with change in their fists. The name perfectly captures the auditory experience of the truck's bell or chimes clanging down the street. Outside of its home region the phrase is largely unknown, but it is warmly nostalgic for those who grew up chasing the ding-dong cart on hot afternoons.

The whole block came alive the moment the kids heard the ding-dong cart turning onto their street.
Origin: Named onomatopoeically after the bell or chime sounds used by ice cream trucks to announce their presence. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
Was this helpful?

Comments

#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US, Massachusetts) An ice cream truck.

Was this helpful?

Comments

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "ding dong cart".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "ding dong cart" (D)

Browse all slang words starting with D.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related