English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Bite the bullet
Meaning
The idiom "bite the bullet" means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination. It is often used to describe someone who takes a tough decision or faces a challenge head-on, despite feeling nervous or hesitant.
Usage
- Despite feeling scared, she decided to bite the bullet and take the job interview.
- The company had been struggling for years, but they finally found the courage to bite the bullet and make some tough decisions.
- My husband had been avoiding conversation about our finances, but I knew we needed to bite the bullet and discuss it openly.
- When faced with a difficult project at work, my colleague decided to bite the bullet and tackle it first thing in the morning.
- After years of trying unsuccessfully to start a family, they finally bit the bullet and tried in vitro fertilization.
Roots and History
The idiom "bite the bullet" originated in the early 19th century as a way to describe soldiers who had no choice but to face the pain of injury or illness during wars. Before the development of anesthesia, soldiers would sometimes have their teeth bitten down on a lead bullet during surgery to help them endure the pain. Over time, the phrase came to be used metaphorically to describe anyone facing a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination.
Synonyms in English
- Grit your teeth
- Face the music
- Tackle head-on
- Dig in
- Take the plunge
Synonyms in other languages
- In Spanish, "coger el coraje" (to take courage)
- In French, "avoir le courage" (to have courage)
- In Italian, "avere il cuore" (to have heart)
- In German, "sich aufsagen lassen" (to take one's fate into their own hands)
- In Japanese, "積み負けられなくと" (to have no choice but to endure it)