A statement made by someone that was suspected of a crime and was proven innocent. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. The phrase can also be used to describe someone who has already faced a difficult situation with courage and determination. Definition of bullet in the Idioms Dictionary. To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable. The term bite the bullet means to do something against your will. keep your friends close and your enemies closer, to endure a painful experience that you cannot avoid, to make yourself endure something unpleasant or painful, to be brave and face a difficult situation, to avoid showing fear or discomfort in an unpleasant situation. For example, "Now, I need to bite the bullet and clean the house." Despite the popularity of the wounded biting the bullet hypothesis, the term is much older than the cowboy genre of the 1800s. Its common knowledge that this saying doesnt actually mean to bite down on a hard bullet but instead, to have courage and force yourself through a difficult or uncomfortable situation. For example, if you say someone has cold feet, it doesnt mean their toes are actually cold. Subscribe to receive new idiom updates by email. "I fought because I was not willing to bite the bullet for something that I did not do. Wearing briefs under your boxers isn't unusual, but it can be tough to bite the bullet and experiment with this look. The adjective phrase can be placed before or after the noun or pronoun in the sentence. 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. You have five seconds per question. Idioms are words or phrases that arent meant to be taken literally. Morgan is the Senior Production Editor at Trusted Media Brands. When someone uses this phrase, they are essentially saying that the person they are speaking to should face a difficult challenge head-on and without hesitation. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bite+the+bullet. Bit the bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions phrase. No matter whether biting the bullet originates from loading a gun using your teeth or as a means to help bear the pain of something. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. 8Ammer, Christine. Bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary bite the bullet in a sentence | Sentence Stack This terminology is probably much older than cowboy pop culture made famous in television series and romanticized novels. The rational alternative is more attractive to most people, but you reject this alternative and, Because I am travelling more with the new job, I decided to, Sometimes it's not in cahoots with what we think, but sometimes you have to, As far as Falconer is concerned, the time for political posturing is past and members have to, But if you can prove to me that there isn't the return or that we have a conservation problem, then I'm willing to, It is time, as Alberta and B. C. have recognized, to, After four years living and working in Japan, I've finally decided to, If a country like Malaysia, which is a net exporter of petroleum, has had to, Talking turkey with each other with maybe one of the parties having for once to, Aware of the need to implement a quality policy for their application assets, many companies are still hesitating to, But, sadly, people are going to have to be patient and. Top ranked example: Those who aren't may have to bite the bullet later on in life. Bite the bullet definition: to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples "Bite the bullet" is an informal phrase that means "to do something unpleasant or painful because it is necessary even though you would like to avoid it." For example, you may not want to spend a lot of money on a new car, but if you know yours is beginning to break down a lot, you might have to bite the bullet and buy a new one. Another suggested origin is that the expression came from the practice of gunners biting off the end of a paper cartridge of gunpowder to expose the powder to a spark. 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. 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. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Playing the audition game. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Bite the Bullet | Britannica Dictionary Bite the dust - Idioms by The Free Dictionary . to bite the bullet. Idiom Origins: The Meaning of "Bite the Bullet" - HubPages Usage of the phrase bite the bullet in real sentences. Definition of to bite the bullet in the Idioms Dictionary. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If someone bites the bullet, they accept that they have to do something unpleasant but necessary. The figurative term may actually refer to how early guns worked. Bite the bullet is most popular as a clich of the American Old West when cowboys were often bravely depicted as biting the bullet when dealing with painful situations. 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. N.p. When Sepoysnative Indian troops of Muslims and Hindusheard the cartridges and bullets were greased with pork and beef fat, they refused to fight because it is against their religion to ingest cow fat. exact ( 8 ) Just bite the bullet. Of course, a utilitarian may here bite the bullet by denying the outrage, but others will find the bullet too hard to bite. This may or may not be true - but the idiom has lasted. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com. The phrase appeared figuratively in an 1891 Rudyard Kipling story calledThe Light that Failed: Bite on the bullet, old man, and dont let them think youre afraid. 7Bengelsdorf, Peter. We recommend our users to update the browser. IDIOM Bite the bullet. 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. I am happy I fought and won. Synonyms: grasp the nettle More Synonyms of to bite the bullet. At some point, youre going to have to bite the bullet and stop spending all your money on luxuries, said Susans mom. 2. n. . 5Ammer, Christine. Definition of bite in the Idioms Dictionary. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, or become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet.. When "bite the bullet" was first used as an idiom The first known time this phrase was used as an idiom was in 1891. Although we werent happy with the audit results, we. Meaning: If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided. The phrase was first recorded by Rudyard Kipling in his . On a wing and a prayer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. BITE THE BULLET - Translation in French - bab.la Biting these cartridges and calmly loading a gun in the face of the enemy certainly meant facing a difficult situation with bravery, as in the idiom bite the bullet. To bite the bullet is something of a cliche due to its Wild West pop culture reputation, but the actual history behind the phrase is rather interesting. Heres what another strange saying close, but no cigar really means. 4 The Economist Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary. Read more . but I bite the bullet and do it so that everything in my house isn't covered in a thick layer of dust. To brace oneself against pain or a difficult experience. Bite the Bullet | Idioms Online A fresh, lemony bite. Idioms in the News 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples, The Dictionary of Cliches: a Word Lovers Guide to 4,000 Overused Phrases and Almost-Pleasing Platitudes, English Idioms: 22 Idioms For Happiness or Being Happy. Definition of bite the dust in the Idioms Dictionary. Lets do an exercise to better remember the Idiom. Mary has to learn to bite the bullet and face her fears of flying. Dating from the 1700s, this idiom is said to be of military origin. To do or accept something unpleasant, often after a period of hesitation. bite the bullet, to phrase. So where did this idiom originate? To brace oneself against pain or a difficult experience. Bite-the-bullet Sentence Examples bite-the-bullet Meanings Synonyms Sentences Talk- Okay, now you're ready to bite the bullet and initiate a discreet conversation. Cambridge University Press, 2013. Example Sentences With "Bite the bullet" . avaler la pilule {vb} [coll.] https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bit+the+bullet. Bite the bullet definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary We set ourselves to bite the hand that feeds us. For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. How this practice could have anything to do with the figurative use of the idiom today, however, is difficult to understand. IDIOMS DETECTED. 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. Certainly this was the meaning in Rudyard Kiplings. Getting your car repaired is often an expensive business, but all you can do is bite the bullet and pay up. She hates math, but she bit the bullet and took the required math classes in order to graduate. A passage reads: "'Steady, Dickie, steady!' said the deep voice in his ear, and the grip tightened. The phrase "chew a bullet" is close enough to convince some scholars to consider it an iteration of "bite the bullet." Another interesting theory comes from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the practice of biting off the paper cartridge used for rifles. You are just going to have to bite the bullet and make the best of it. Bite the bullet - SpellQuiz She bit the bullet when she realized there was no way out of this situation. Apply now! The Dictionary of Cliches: a Word Lovers Guide to 4,000 Overused Phrases and Almost-Pleasing Platitudes. bite the bullet - idioms 4 you Even though I knew I was overcharged, I had to bite the bullet and pay up. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.,3Ammer, Christine. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, British and American pronunciations with audio. The Sepoys, who didn't eat beef . 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. Bite The Bullet, Meaning & Definition - UsingEnglish.com [journalism] Tour operators may be forced to bite the bullet and cut prices. Ill just have to bite the bullet and take his class. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Bite the bullet - Meaning and Origin - Poem Analysis Using teeth to help load a musket was common, possibly leading to the phrases origins.