bell the cat
Attempt the dangerous
To bell the cat is to take on a dangerous task for the benefit of others—from the fable where mice propose hanging a bell on the cat to warn of its approach, until one asks who will do it.
The phrase usually appears in questions about who will risk confronting a powerful adversary: Everyone agrees the boss needs to hear this, but who's going to bell the cat?
Ancient Greek fable writer
- miceSmall gnawing mammals
- collarNeck encirclement
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- moralityRight and wrong principles
allegory · parable · lesson · wisdom · folklore · cunning · strategy · council
Boldness before danger
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- daringAdventurous courage
- valorCourage in danger
heroism · audacity · pluck · mettle · fearlessness · gallantry · fortitude · intrepidity
Exposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- jeopardyRisk of harm
vulnerability · exposure · gamble · threat · uncertainty · precariousness · venture · liability
Task one commits to
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- difficultyState of being hard
- taskWork to be done
- featRemarkable act of skill
endeavor · trial · impossible · impractical · execution · implementation · follow-through · action
Aesop
Ancient Greek fable writer
morality · allegory · parable · lesson · wisdom · folklore · cunning · strategy · council · volunteer
bravery
Boldness before danger
valor · heroism · audacity · pluck · mettle · fearlessness · gallantry · fortitude · intrepidity · spunk
danger
Exposure to harm
jeopardy · vulnerability · exposure · gamble · threat · uncertainty · precariousness · venture · liability · consequence
undertaking
Task one commits to
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- difficultyState of being hard
- taskWork to be done
feat · endeavor · trial · impossible · impractical · execution · implementation · follow-through · action · deed
bell the catplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
chicken out · keep one's head down · back down · lose one's nerve · get cold feet
bell the catpass the buck
Transfer responsibility elsewhere
hang back · sit on one's hands · kick the can down the road · bury one's head in the sand
bell the catplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
keep one's head down · pass the buck · hedge one's bets · sit on the fence · look the other way
cat, bell, bells, cats, bell-ringer