World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesBell-the-cat
/ˌbel ðə ˈkæt/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
To take upon oneself a perilous, extremely dangerous, or daunting task for the benefit of others.
"Someone has to bell-the-cat and confront the corrupt management about the missing funds."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the famous medieval fable recorded by the monk Odo of Cheriton, where a group of mice discuss putting a bell on a cat to warn of its approach. The phrase evolved into an English idiom signifying the taking on of a perilous or daunting task for the common good.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Bell-the-cat" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
pendre la clochette au chat
Transliteration: pãdʁ la klɔʃɛt o ʃa
"Quelqu'un doit pendre la clochette au chat et affronter le problème."
die Katze anbellenden
Transliteration: diː ˈkat͡sə ˈanˌbɛləndən
"Jemand muss das Risiko auf sich nehmen."
mettere il campanello al gatto
Transliteration: ˈmettere il kampaˈnɛllo al ˈɡatto
"Qualcuno deve rischiare grosso per il bene di tutti."
poner el cascabel al gato
Transliteration: poˈneɾ el kas.kaˈβel al ˈɡato
"Alguien tiene que poner el cascabel al gato y hablar con el jefe."
poner o guizo ao gato
Transliteration: puˈneɾ u ˈɡizu aw ˈɡatu
Script: pôr o guizo ao gato
"Alguém tem de pôr o guizo ao gato nesta situação."
जोखिम भरा काम अपने हाथ में लेना
Transliteration: jokhim bharā kām apne hāth meṃ lenā
"किसी को तो यह जोखिम भरा काम अपने हाथ में लेना ही होगा।"
为众人冒险
Transliteration: wéi zhòng rén mào xiǎn
"总得有人挺身而出为大局冒这个险。"
위험한 일을 자처하다
Transliteration: wiheomhan ireul jacheohada
"누군가는 그 위험한 일을 자처해서 나서야 한다."
危険な役目を引き受ける
Transliteration: kiken na yakume o hikiukeru
"誰かがその危険な役目を引き受けなければならない。"
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