bell the cat

【字面理解】在猫的脖子上挂铃铛

【英文解析】 to do something dangerous in order to save others; to step forward bravely to face the danger for the good of others

【中文解析】自告奋勇去冒险;挺身而出

【典型例句】① It’s quite difficult to get a man who can bell the cat.很难找到危险时刻能够挺身而出的人。

② All the workers agreed that they wanted a pay increase, but nobody offered to bell the cat and talked to their employer.所有工人都认为要加薪，但却没人自告奋勇 去跟老板谈。 '

【注释】源自《伊索寓言_老鼠会议》(Aesop’s Fables The Mice in Council): 一群老鼠在鼠洞里举行会议，讨论 如何对付凶狠的猫。白胡须老鼠提议我们可以在 猶的项下挂一个铜铃。”群鼠都同意这个建议，可是， 却都不愿意挺身而出，去给猫挂铃。后来短语bell the cat就用来喻指“挺身而出，担当风险”。