bell the cat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“These are the mice trying to bell the cat — only they can’t get one mouse to go out and do it,” he said.

From Washington Post • May 14, 2016

His opinion that certain firms are artificially increasing the prices is very much correct but who will bell the cat, that's the moot point.

From New York Times • Oct. 13, 2014

Baby Kochamma said, and to Chacko, “Ask him where he was yesterday. Let’s bell the cat once and for all.”

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

The query, "Who shall bell the cat?" may be called a fable abridged, for it contains the point of one.

From Proverb Lore Many sayings, wise or otherwise, on many subjects, gleaned from many sources by Hulme, F. Edward (Frederick Edward)

Angus, the head of the existing branch of the Douglas family, who had already risen into much of the power and importance of his forfeited kinsman, answered with equally grim brevity "I'se bell the cat."

From Royal Edinburgh Her Saints, Kings, Prophets and Poets by Reid, George