We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Third-Act Encores: True Tales of Peoples Best Later-in-Life Accomplishments, Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique: Heres How to Use Them the Right Way, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Francis Grose describes this in his 1796 book,A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Together, we must brace ourselves. A working knowledge of frequently used idioms is essential in order to naturally communicate with Americans. Many idioms become a cliche in their use, meaning they are overused or create a stereotype. The phrase may have also been used more broadly to describe any situation where someone needed to endure a difficult or painful experience with courage and fortitude. For other uses, see Bite the bullet (disambiguation). The powder cartridge used for the rifles had a paper cartridge that needed to be bitten off by the soldier before they loaded it into their gun. Heres what another strange saying close, but no cigar really means. Synonyms: grasp the nettle More Synonyms of to bite the bullet. bite the bullet, to; bite the dog that bit you; bite the dust; bite the dust, to; Webster's New World adds "[It] has a meaning that differs from the literal meaning of its parts taken together." 100+ Video and Audio based English Speaking Course Conversations12000+ Text & Audio based Frequently used Vocabulary & Dialogues with correct pronunciationsFull Grammar & 15000+ Solved Composition topics onEssay Writing, Autobiography, Report Writing, Debate Writing, Story Writing, Speech Writing,Letter Writing, Expansion of Ideas(Proverbs),Expansion of Idioms, Riddles with Answers,Poem Writing and many more topicsPlus Access to the Daily Added Content, Visiting the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, School Children Affected by Food Poisoning, Complaint Letter to the Chairman of Housing Society, Request Letter to the Municipal Corporation, Complaint Letter to the State Electricity Board, Request Letter to the Commissioner of Police, Request Letter for a Character Certificate, Request Letter for a Better Lab and Library, A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush, Better the Devil You Know than the Devil You Dont, Dont Count your Chickens Before They Hatch, Dont Throw The Baby Out With the Bathwater, Early to Bed and Early to Rise Makes a Man Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise, Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day; Teach a Man to Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime, If at First You Dont Succeed, Try, Try Again, If you Want Something Done Right, Do It Yourself, Its Better to Ask Forgiveness than Permission, Its not What you Know, its Who you Know, Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer, Life is Like a Box of Chocolates; You Never Know What Youre Gonna Get, One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure, The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side, The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating, You Can Lead a Horse to Water, But You Cant Make it Drink, You Cant Make an Omelet Without Breaking Eggs, You Scratch My Back, And Ill Scratch Yours, Youre Only As Strong As Your Weakest Link, Babson Universitys Entrepreneurship Program, Babson Universitys Impact on the Global Economy, Babson Universitys Post-Pandemic Student Preparation, Babson Universitys Leading Scholars and Experts, Babson Universitys Social Impact Program, Expressing Feelings Conversations & Vocabulary, Conversation Starters Conversations & Vocabulary. To bite the bullet means to face difficulty head-on and with courage. Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? It comes from stories of long ago when a wounded soldier was told to bite a bullet before undergoing surgery without anesthesia to deal with the pain. For example, if you say someone has cold feet, it doesnt mean their toes are actually cold. In the heat of battle, the soldier would rip open the tip of the paper cartridge with his teeth and pour the gunpowder and ball into his gun. Behave bravely or stoically when facing pain or a difficult situation, as in. Preparing for your Cambridge English exam? To bear up in an unpleasant or a difficult situation. IDIOM Bite the bullet. bite the bullet; bite the bullet; bite the bullet; bite the bullet; bite the bullet; bite the bullet, to; bite the dog that bit you . The phrase is thought to have come from the military, perhaps because biting a bullet was a common practice for patients, due to a lack of anesthesia. American Idioms | to bite the bullet | POLY Languages Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,6Ayto, John. English Dictionary Grammar Definition of 'to bite the bullet' to bite the bullet phrase If someone bites the bullet, they accept that they have to do something unpleasant but necessary . Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Playing the audition game. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. A time might come when you have to bite the bullet yourself. She hates math, but she forced herself and took the required math classes in order to graduate. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. On a wing and a prayer. This may or may not be true - but the idiom has lasted. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Today, it is used to describe facing hardship. Definition of 'to bite the bullet' - Collins Online Dictionary The English language is full of idiomatic phrases or terms that mean something other than what they literally suggest. If your internet connection isn't working, you'll probably have to bite the bullet and phone the technical support department. I thought this idioms came from the Civil War in the US? You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable. Biting the bullet and finally doing something that you have been avoiding can bring a sense of relief. There are actually a few different theories about where the saying comes from. [idiom] more_vert. The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. (2002 Auditions Guide). but I bite the bullet and do it so that everything in my house isn't covered in a thick layer of dust. The phrase "bit the bullet" means to accept the reality and then face the consequences. bite the bullet in Traditional Chinese - Cambridge (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20" }).render("6ea159e3e44940909b49c98e320201e2"); }); The first known time this phrase was used as an idiom was in1891. Bite the dust - Idioms by The Free Dictionary In fact, the biting the bullet theory and assumptions likely led to the cliche described above since widespread use of the practice has been hard to nail down. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Brave and courageous adventurous adventurously audacious ballsy be man enough to do something idiom fearless fearlessly gallant gallantly : Amz Digital Services, 2012. Let's find out! It likely originated with the habit of using ones teeth to help load a gun, as well as the practice of chewing on a soft lead musket ball to offset thirst, boredom, and pain. She bit the bullet when she realized there was no way out of this situation. Mary has to learn to bite the bullet and face her fears of flying. Examples of "Bite-the-bullet" in a Sentence | YourDictionary.com After fishing for an hour he still had not had a bite. Bit the bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping usto understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Lets explore where this term may have originated from and how it became synonymous with facing a hardship or problem head-on despite the problems it may cause. Getting your car repaired is often an expensive business, but all you can do is bite the bullet and pay up. Examples: 1. Example Sentences. Skyhorse Publishing, 2014. We use it when we have to deal with a painful or unpleasant situation. Therefore if they bit the bullet they would be doing something they werent comfortable with. to bite the bullet. We set ourselves to bite the hand that feeds us. In other words, it means that a person should accept the coming hardships and face or endure resulting issues and problems with courage and boldness. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you find a certain pro that you really communicate well with, bite the bullet and ask if she is willing to give you lessons. I had an unbearable toothache, so I bit the bullet and visited a dentist. Bite on the bullet, old man, and dont let them think youre afraid,' in his bookThe Light That Failed. The first known accounts of the term used in a literal sense were immortalized in Samuel Butlers poem Hudibras concerning the English Civil War in 1642-1651, in which he describes the poisoning of the enemy due to bacterial infection when the soldiers chewed the bullets in advance of firing them: Their case-shot savour strong of poison / And doubtless have been chewd with teeth / Of some that had a stinking breath., It is again mentioned as chewing a bullet during the Revolutionary War when whipped as punishment or to help stave off thirst. 4 The Economist Also, according to the 1796Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongueby Francis Grose, soldiers (or grenadiers, specifically) being punished for infractions with a whip would bite on a bullet so that they would not show weakness by crying out in pain. A fresh, lemony bite. Idiom: Bite the bullet Meaning and Example Sentences Even though I knew I was overcharged, I had to bite the bullet and pay up. [journalism] Tour operators may be forced to bite the bullet and cut prices. In her free time, she likes exploring the seacoast of Maine where she lives and works remotely full time and snuggling up on the couch with her corgi, Eggo, to watch HGTV or The Office. So where did this idiom originate? face up to doing something difficult or unpleasant; stoically avoid showing fear or distress. Bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. Example sentences with Bite - Power Thesaurus Before anesthesia was invented, army doctors performing surgery, setting bones, or cleaning wounds would have their patient bite on a lead bullet or some other object to help endure the pain and stop them from crying out. A bullet may seem an odd choice but the soft lead used meant that they would absorb the pressure of the bite without damaging the teeth. Rudyard Kipling wrote, Steady, Dickie, steady! said the deep voice in his ear, and the grip tightened. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices. 3 The New York Times Better to bite the bullet now. See full dictionary entry for bullet. Here are example sentences : My car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Mooshoo did a two-year bit in Sing Sing. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.,3Ammer, Christine. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Brave and courageous adventurous adventurously audacious ballsy be man enough to do something idiom fearless fearlessly gallant gallantly I'm not sure that I can use it when I was supposed to clean the house but I haven't done until down to the wire. Bite the bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary bite the bullet, to phrase. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Talk- Okay, now you're ready to bite the bullet and initiate a discreet conversation. Bite the bullet may have had its fair share of overuse through the last centurys habit of painting the Wild West as something to be romanticized, but it has an interesting beginning. Another more recent example was inThe Inimitable Jeevesin 1923 saying Brace up and bite the bullet. Dating from the 1700s, this idiom is said to be of military origin. exact ( 8 ) Just bite the bullet. Learn more Idioms with American Teachers here in POLY! To face a painful situation bravely and stoically. To bite the bullet means to decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating over, according to Google. bite the bullet | English examples in context | Ludwig The adjective in an adjective phrase can appear at the start, end or middle of the phrase. Youve probably been told to bite the bullet at least once in your life. What does bite expression mean? Bullets are made of lead, a soft metal, and biting the bulletwas a distraction designed to stop a patient from crying out. bite the bullet (also: take one's medicine like a man) volume_up. Before the discovery of anaesthesia, when soldiers were wounded in battle and had to be treated or undergo surgery, they were made to bite on something hard to keep them from screaming out in pain. This phrase dates from the days before anaesthetics, when wounded soldiers were given a bullet or similar solid object to clench between their teeth when undergoing surgery. a jail sentence. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. If someone tells you to just bite the bullet, they understand you don't want to carry out the action but want you to do it anyway. For example, "Now, I need to bite the bullet and clean the house." Bite the bullet - Wikipedia What does to bite the bullet expression mean? This phrase dates from the days before anaesthetics, when wounded soldiers were given a bullet or similar solid object to clench between their teeth when undergoing surgery. Gunpowder and a ball were previously loaded into paper cartridges. Bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions 2. n. . A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, published in 1976, described whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet., A soldier at the Battle of Walloomsac wrote, I had drank nothing all day, and should have died of thirst if I had not chewed a bullet all the time.. DICTIONARY bite the bullet verb To endure a punishment or consequence with dignity or stoicism. I don't actually enjoy cleaning, but I bite the bullet and do it so that everything in my house isn't covered in a thick layer of dust. Learn to speak English fluently with Poly Languages. Idioms are words or phrases that arent meant to be taken literally. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, British and American pronunciations with audio. In the days before anesthesia, a wounded soldier about to undergo surgery was given a bullet to clamp in his teeth and bear down on so he wouldn't bite off his tongue from the pain. Read more . To bite the bullet means facing a hardship straight on or bearing something physically or psychologically painful with bravery. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. Definition of bite in the Idioms Dictionary. BITE THE BULLET | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary to force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situation I hate going to the dentist, but I'll just have to bite the bullet. Grammar Monster search our site by Craig Shrives What Is the Origin of the Saying "To Bite the Bullet"? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms. You are just going to have to bite the bullet and make the best of it. 1, 2, 3, 4 Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. Definition of to bite the bullet in the Idioms Dictionary. The phrase "bite the bullet" is an idiomatic expression that is used to encourage someone to endure a painful or difficult situation with courage and determination. This page contains one or more affiliate links. This phrase dates from the days before anaesthetics, when wounded soldiers were given a bullet or similar solid object to clench between their teeth when undergoing surgery. Morgan is the Senior Production Editor at Trusted Media Brands. bite the bullet (Idiom, English) 27 translations (Belarusian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.)