Bell the cat British phrase fable
When you ask someone 'Who will bell the cat?' , you wish to know as to which individual will agree to undertake an impossible or dangerous task.
To do an impossible or dangerous task
You want me to be an undercover informant for the police. - No way. Who will bell the cat?
I am going to bell the cat and tell my mom that I have just had a car crash.
Someone has to bell the cat and tell the boss that there is a big mistake in the report.
Who will bell the cat and tell mom we broke her favorite vase?
to show or teach somebody how to do something
No matter how difficult a task is, you can get it to be done by starting to do simple things.
To replace someone in a job or position, and continue their work
To deal with, finish or eliminate someone or something quickly and effectively
The verb “bell” should be conjugated according to its tense.
The phrase derives from one of Aesop ‘s fables, which is under the titles “The Belling Cat” or “The Mice in Council”. The story is about a group of mice who were terrified of the house cat. One of them suggested putting a bell around the cat’s neck to warn of his arrival. Everybody found that it is a good idea, however, no one volunteers to do this task. The lesson from the story is that we must consider the probability of the outcome and methods to perform them. The plan itself must be achieved or it only looks good on paper?