What does the phrase bell the cat mean?
What does the phrase bell the cat mean?
The story gives rise to the idiom to bell the cat, which means to attempt, or agree to perform, an impossibly difficult task. Historically it was the basis of the nickname given the Scottish nobleman Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus.
What is the moral of the cat and the bell?
The story is used to teach the wisdom of evaluating a plan based not only on how desirable the outcome would be once executed, but to think first of how the plan would be executed. Some versions of the fable state a moral at the end, along the lines of: It is one thing to suggest and another thing to do.
Who will bell the cat synonym?
What is another word for bell the cat?
| tempt fate | court danger |
|---|---|
| court disaster | live dangerously |
| risk it | ask for it |
| play with fire | push one’s luck |
| run a risk | tempt the gods |
Who will bell the cat in a sentence?
But then someone has to bell the cat and the Metro Rail has to become a reality. Politicians should be brave enough to bell the cat and join forces to tackle the national task. The real challenge is deciding whose job it is to bell the cat.
How do you use break the ice in a sentence?
(1) Jim organized a few party games to break the ice when people first arrived. (2) She helps break the ice when I am interviewing. (3) I have to break the ice with a long pole before I can lower a bucket into water. (4) In the winter, she rose early to break the ice in the washing bowls.
Is break the ice a metaphor?
The term ‘break the ice’ has not undergone the usual path that most idioms have. It was used in the Shakespeare play and the Butler four hundred years ago in exactly the metaphorical way it is used in our everyday speech today. The non-metaphorical breaking ice at Petito Merino glacier in Patagonia.
Do it for good meaning?
When you do something “for good,” that means you do it permanently.
What is the expression break the ice?
informal. B2. to make people who have not met before feel more relaxed with each other: Someone suggested that we play a party game to break the ice.
How do you break the ice with a girl?
The 13 Best Ways to Break the Ice
- Show your interest in the person you’re talking to.
- Avoid Yes/No questions.
- Let the other person explain things you don’t know.
- Read the news.
- Share your experience.
- Use the F.O.R.D.
- Be honest.
- Learn from the best.
What does it mean to give the devil his due?
give the devil his due. Give credit to what is good in a disagreeable or disliked person. For example, I don’t like John’s views on education, but give the devil his due, he always has something important to say, or I don’t like what the new management has done, but give the devil his due, sales have improved. [
What happen if you swallow a bullet?
You’re not going to get lead poisoning from a solid chunk of metal passing straight through your intestines. You can get lead poisoning from prolonged contact with your skin. Swallowing a bullet would almost certainly give you lead poisoning.
What does bullet mean in slang?
noun. something very good, excellent; “cool”. This movie is the bullet! See more words with the same meaning: good, okay, cool, awesome, fun.
What figurative language is bite the bullet?
“Bite the bullet: Meaning to power through something unpleasant, the term comes from the practice of providing wounded soldiers a bullet to clench their teeth on while they underwent surgery without anesthetic. British writer Rudyard Kipling is thought to have been the first to use the expression figuratively.
What does call it a day mean?
Stop a particular activity for the rest of the day, as in It’s past five o’clock so let’s call it a day. Similarly, call it a night means “to stop something for the rest of the night,” as in One more hand of bridge and then let’s call it a night.
What is dime a dozen?
something very common and not having much value. something that is abundant, cheap and very common. something that is very common and not of much value. so plentiful as to be valueless.
What does bite the butter mean?
To do or accept something unpleasant, often after a period of hesitation. I know she’s disappointed to have not gotten her dream job, but the sooner she bites the bullet and accepts it, the sooner she can move on. …
What does forego mean?
transitive verb. 1 : to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without never forwent an opportunity of honest profit— R. L. Stevenson decided to forgo dessert for a few days. 2 archaic : forsake. Other Words from forego Synonyms & Antonyms Learn More About forego.
What does egg on your face mean?
Meaning: To look foolish or be embarrassed.
What is the meaning of endure?
transitive verb. 1 : to undergo especially without giving in : suffer endure hardships endured great pain. 2 : to regard with acceptance or tolerance could not endure noisy children. Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About endure.
What is a synonym for endure?
Some common synonyms of endure are abide, bear, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean “to put up with something trying or painful,” endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.