bell the cat

== English == === Etymology === From a medieval fable in which mice agree that a bell should be put round a cat's neck so they will always be warned of its arrival, but cannot agree who should undertake the dangerous task. === Pronunciation === === Verb === bell the cat (third-person singular simple present bells the cat, present participle belling the cat, simple past and past participle belled the cat) (idiomatic) To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== take one for the team step into the breach fall on a grenade