The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 plus 1 plus 4 letter word RING A BELL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
I
N
G
A
B
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L
L
More clues leading to the result RING A BELL
- Make a tinkling noise to serve as a reminder?
- Take one back, possibly, as may master for servant?
- Campanologist may be familiar
- A campanologist might seem familiar
- Call girl’s bottom must now be beginning to sound familiar
- To evoke old memory, emulate town crier
- Call to prayer may be familiar
- To jog the memory, shake Belgian gripped by both hands
- Murder victim meets his end coming after cartel – jog your memory?
- Early victim on call line — sound familiar?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Make a tinkling noise/serve as a reminder" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case make a tinkling noise/serve as a reminder = ring a bell.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.