bell the cat en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
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.
Meanings
- (idiomatic) To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| belling the cat | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| belled the cat | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| belled the cat | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| bells the cat | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
take one for the team · fall on a grenade · step into the breach
Translations (26)
ru игра́ть с огнём (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ko 고양이 목에 방울 달기 (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru подста́вить себя́ под уда́р (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru отва́живаться (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru броса́ться на амбразу́ру (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru ходи́ть по острию́ ножа́ (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · fa پیش مرگ شدن، در انجام کار مشکلی پیش قدم شدن (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru ссать про́тив ве́тра (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · de der Katze die Schelle anhängen (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · pl narazić się (dla dobra grupy) (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru броса́ться в о́мут с голово́й (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · es ponerle el cascabel al gato (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru рискова́ть собо́й (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru вызыва́ть ого́нь на себя́ (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · nn henge bjølla på katten (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · vi treo chuông cổ mèo (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru лезть на рожо́н (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · fr attacher le grelot (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · vi đeo lục lạc cho mèo (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · de der Katze die Schelle umhängen (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · nn hengje bjølla på katten (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · nb henge bjella på katten (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru испы́тывать судьбу́ (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · fi panna kello kissan kaulaan (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · ru подставля́ть го́лову (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group) · nl de kat de bel aanbinden (to undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group)