bell the cat 系成語(yǔ) to hang the bell about the cat's neck 的簡(jiǎn)略,愿意是“給貓的脖子上掛鈴”。它來(lái)自《伊索寓言》(Aesop's Fables)中的《老鼠會(huì)議》(The Mice in Council)
這篇寓言講的是:一群老鼠在鼠洞里舉行會(huì)議,討論如何對(duì)付兇狠的貓。白胡須老鼠提出:“我有個(gè)方法, 在貓的脖子上掛一個(gè)鈴。這樣,貓一走動(dòng)鈴就響,我們就可以聞鈴聲而逃避了”,群鼠一致同意這個(gè)建議, 歡呼:“That's a capital idea.We will bell the cat!No more fear of the cat!”但是,誰(shuí)去給貓掛鈴鐺呢?沒(méi)有一只老鼠敢去,一個(gè)個(gè)都溜掉了。老鼠會(huì)議豪無(wú)結(jié)果,它們不安全的境況當(dāng)然也無(wú)法改善。
寓言所寄托的意思很明白:遇到困難的問(wèn)題時(shí)候,既需要有出謀獻(xiàn)策的人,更需要有挺身而出的實(shí)干家。
bell the cat 常用來(lái)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.