English Idioms

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Unring the bell

Meaning

The idiom "unring the bell" means to undo or reverse a situation that has already happened, especially something that cannot be reversed. It suggests that once a certain action has been taken, it is difficult or impossible to go back and change it.

Usage

  • After making a mistake at work, John's boss told him he had "unrung the bell" by sending out an email with incorrect information.
  • When Jane discovered that her husband had cheated on her, she felt like she had "unrung the bell" of their relationship.
  • The police were able to catch the thief because they had "unrung the bell" by accidentally leaving behind a piece of evidence.
  • When Sarah realized that she had left her keys in the wrong place, she was relieved to have "unrung the bell" on her forgetfulness.
  • After getting into an argument with his family, John felt like he had "unrung the bell" by causing tension and conflict.

Roots and History

The phrase "unring the bell" dates back to the 16th century and is believed to have originated from a biblical reference in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 20:1-3, it is written that Satan will be bound for a thousand years, but at the end of that time, he will be released and "the secret places of darkness will be revealed." This can be seen as a metaphor for undoing or reversing something that has already been done. Over time, the idiom has evolved to mean more than just reversing a situation. It now implies that once something has happened, it is difficult or impossible to go back and change it. The idiom may also be used to describe a situation where there are consequences for an action taken, even if it cannot be undone.

Synonyms in English

  • Muckraking
  • Stirring up trouble
  • Rocking the boat
  • Pulling someone's leg
  • Creating chaos

Synonyms in other languages

  • Chamboulant la paille à rire - French (upsetting the punchline)
  • 刺激一场对话 - Chinese (stirring up a conversation)
  • 诅毁一家名字 - Mandarin (ruining someone's reputation)
  • 钓鱼 - Japanese (luring someone in)
  • 挑战 - Spanish (challenging)

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