The phrase 'bear the bell' is an idiom used to mean taking first place or being the leader in a particular field. It originated from the idea of a bellwether, which is a sheep that leads the flock. Finding synonyms for this idiom can often come in handy while writing a piece of literature or using it in a conversation. Words like 'outdo,' 'outrank,' 'surpass,' 'lead the pack,' and 'be at the forefront' can be used interchangeably to convey the same sense as 'bear the bell.' Other synonyms that can be used are 'top-ranked,' 'pioneer,' 'the best,' and 'front-runner.' It all depends on the context in which the phrase is being used.