bell cow
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of bell cow
An Americanism dating back to 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gibson, last year’s bell cow, is still big for a running back at 6 feet, but he doesn’t run with the same sort of bulldozer style that Robinson is known for.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 24, 2022
He showed he could be the bell cow of the explosive Buckeyes offense, whether he gets the chance again or not.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 1, 2022
He looks tentative and plodding, nothing like a bell cow back.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 24, 2022
Smith has been Baylor’s bell cow, and he is a reflection of Aranda’s ability to take a roster that isn’t loaded with four- and five-star players and get the pieces in the right places.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2021
That was the bell cow, whom, of course, none of the other cows dared to disturb.
From Lisbeth Longfrock by Poulsson, Laura E. (Laura Elizabeth)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
