bell the cat

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English

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Etymology

From a medieval fable in which mice agree that a bell should be put round a cat's neck so they will always be warned of its arrival, but cannot agree who should undertake the dangerous task.

Pronunciation

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Verb

bell the cat (third-person singular simple present bells the cat, present participle belling the cat, simple past and past participle belled the cat)

  1. (idiomatic) To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.

Translations

See also