ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lose the bell

idiom
Meaning

To be defeated in a contest.


Examples
SIMPLE

Our team played hard, but we lost the bell.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite leading for most of the game, the home team lost the bell in the final minutes.

COMPLEX

The champion had defended his title for years, but he finally lost the bell to a younger, faster challenger.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be someone's to lose

    To be anticipated to be won by someone.

  2. 02

    bear away the bell

    To be superior in something.

  3. 03

    bell out

    To open out into a bell shape.

  4. 04

    bell the cat

    To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.

  5. 05

    lose face

    To lose the respect of others; to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.

  6. 06

    lose ground

    To suffer loss or disadvantage; to experience a setback.

  7. 07

    lose it

    To lose control of a situation.

  8. 08

    lose one's battle

    To succumb to a serious illness.

© 2026 English Reference