bell the cat 系成語 to hang the bell about the cat's neck 的簡略,愿意是“給貓的脖子上掛鈴”。它來自《伊索寓言》(Aesop's Fables)中的《老鼠會議》(The Mice in Council)
這篇寓言講的是:一群老鼠在鼠洞里舉行會議,討論如何對付兇狠的貓。白胡須老鼠提出:“我有個方法, 在貓的脖子上掛一個鈴。這樣,貓一走動鈴就響,我們就可以聞鈴聲而逃避了”,群鼠一致同意這個建議, 歡呼:“That's a capital idea.We will bell the cat!No more fear of the cat!”但是,誰去給貓掛鈴鐺呢?沒有一只老鼠敢去,一個個都溜掉了。老鼠會議豪無結(jié)果,它們不安全的境況當然也無法改善。
寓言所寄托的意思很明白:遇到困難的問題時候,既需要有出謀獻策的人,更需要有挺身而出的實干家。
bell the cat 常用來比喻 to do sth dangerous in order to save others;to step forwar bravely to face the danger;to take a risk for the good of others.
eg:Everybody made suggestion,but no one actually offered to bell the cat.
We didn't know who would put him this delicate question when my friend offered to bell the cat.