# bear away the bell

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bear-away-the-bell
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be superior in something.

## Examples

- She always bears away the bell in our local chess club.
- He bears away the bell every time we play this card game.
- After months of intense training, the young athlete finally bore away the bell at the national championships.
- The small bakery manages to bear away the bell because they use a secret family recipe that no other shop can copy.
- Although the competition was very close, the tech startup bore away the bell by presenting a much more user-friendly app design.
- While many talented artists submitted work to the gallery, the young painter bore away the bell with her stunning and original portrait.

## Origin

Early records indicate the phrase derives from the former practice of awarding a bell as the traditional prize for the winner of a race. The successful competitor would physically carry the trophy from the field, a practical necessity that established the bell as a mark of precedence. The expression persists as an idiom for victory, though the custom of distributing musical percussion to athletes has largely subsided.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.