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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
What 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.
Example
In the heated meeting, a junior employee volunteered to bell the cat by presenting a controversial idea to the management.
While the team recognized the need for cost-cutting measures, no one was willing to bell the cat and suggest employee layoffs.
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.
In my career, I've often been the one who bells the cat, taking on challenging projects others were hesitant to tackle.
Faced with a difficult and risky decision, she decided to be the one to bell the cat and address the long-standing issue in the department.
