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to bell the cat
01
to be the one who shows courage and does something risky that benefits all members of a group
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "bell the cat" and when to use it?
The idiom "bell the cat" has its origins in a fable attributed to Aesop, an ancient Greek storyteller. In the fable, a group of mice discusses how to deal with a cat that preys on them. One mouse proposes placing a bell around the cat's neck to warn them of its approach, but another mouse points out the difficulty of accomplishing this risky task. The phrase is used figuratively to describe a challenging or dangerous undertaking, particularly one in which someone has to assume a significant risk in order to achieve a goal or address a problem.
Examples
In my career, I've often been the one who bells the cat, taking on challenging projects others were hesitant to tackle.
The CEO suggested that the company needed a major overhaul, but no one wanted to be the one to bell the cat and implement the changes.
