lose the bell
To be defeated in a contest.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Our team played hard, but we lost the bell.”
“Despite leading for most of the game, the home team lost the bell in the final minutes.”
“The champion had defended his title for years, but he finally lost the bell to a younger, faster challenger.”
- 01
be someone's to lose
To be anticipated to be won by someone.
- 02
bear away the bell
To be superior in something.
- 03
bell out
To open out into a bell shape.
- 04
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 05
bells and whistles
Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.
- 06
fight a losing battle
To attempt a task or other endeavor in which there is no chance that it will succeed.
- 07
lose face
To lose the respect of others; to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.
- 08
lose ground
To suffer loss or disadvantage; to experience a setback.
Last updated August 10, 2026