en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Bite the bullet"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 13/11/2024, 12:18
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Bite the bullet

To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination.

Tone

Resilient and determined

Origin

The phrase is believed to have originated from the practice during battles of having soldiers bite on a bullet to help cope with pain in the absence of anesthesia during surgery.

Examples of usage

  • I really didn't want to sit through that three-hour meeting, but I knew I had to bite the bullet and get it over with.
  • She decided to bite the bullet and finally confront her boss about the overdue raise.

Recommended posts in Phrases

Charity begins at home

Charity begins at home

The phrase means that one should take care of and ... Learn more →

Life is what you make it

Life is what you make it

The phrase "Life is what you make it" suggests that ... Learn more →

Little pitchers have big ears

Little pitchers have big ears

The phrase means that children often hear and understand more ... Learn more →

Empty vessels make the most noise

Empty vessels make the most noise

The phrase suggests that those who lack substance or knowledge ... Learn more →