Bell the Cat——挺身而出

** to take on a dangerous mission at great personal risk for others（為了他人而冒着極大的個人風險承擔危險的任務）// to be a ringleader in a hazardous movement（成為危險改革運動的頭目）// to grapple with a dangerous opponent（與危險的對手搏鬥）

~~ march up to the cannon's mouth // go out of one's depth // defy danger // stick out one’s neck // tempt the gods // chance one's arm // go out on a limb // dare the devil

~~鋌而走險；為人承擔重任；為他人利益冒險；替別人冒險；為大家而去冒風險

!! Aesop tells of a family of mice holding a meeting to decide what to do about a cat that has been preventing them from foraging for food, and many members of their clan have been killed. One sage old mouse suggests that a brass bell is to be put around the cat’s neck, so that they can hear it coming by its tinkle sound. Everyone agrees that this ploy is perfect. However, one younger mouse steps forward and solemnly asks, “But who will bell the cat?” None is willing to perform this dangerous task.

（伊索講述一群老鼠舉行會議，決定如何對付一隻阻止他們覓食的貓，他們很多成員已被殺死。一隻聰明的老鼠建議在貓的脖子上放一個銅鈴，以便聽到它到來的叮噹聲。每隻老鼠都同意這策略很完美。然而，一隻年輕的老鼠走上前，莊嚴地問：“但是誰會給這隻貓掛鈴？”沒有一隻老鼠願意執行這項危險任務。）

>> A woman fell overboard, and the restaurant manager on the cruise ship belled the cat and jumped to the sea to rescue her.

（一個女子在大海上遇溺，遊輪上的餐廳經理挺身而出，跳到海裏拯救她。）

>> At the fire scene, two firefighters belled the cat and rescued four residents one after another, but unfortunately they eventually sacrificed themselves and died in the flames.

（在火警現場，兩位消防員捨己為人，先後救出了四位居民，可惜他們犧牲了自己，最終葬身火海。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師

李啟文　　教授