Even though I knew I was overcharged, I had to bite the bullet and pay up. Getting your car repaired is often an expensive business, but all you can do is bite the bullet and pay up. 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. 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. English Idioms & Sayings 3 subscribers Subscribe 2 Share 20 views 1 day ago #idioms #english #learnenglish Idioms are powerful. to bite the bullet phrase. Francis Grose describes this in his 1796 book,A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. This expression is believed to come from the days when those wounded in battle had to be treated without anesthesia and were made to bite on a lead bullet to brace themselves against the pain of surgery. Definition of bullet in the Idioms Dictionary. Example sentences containing bite the bullet from English sources So where did this idiom originate? We use it when we have to deal with a painful or unpleasant situation. 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. Get ready with Test&Train, the online practice tool from Cambridge. - Did we make a mistake? 7 1 . 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. 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. 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. 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. To brace oneself against pain or a difficult experience. To bite the bullet means facing a hardship straight on or bearing something physically or psychologically painful with bravery. At some point, youre going to have to bite the bullet and stop spending all your money on luxuries, said Susans mom. Youve probably been told to bite the bullet at least once in your life. Examples: 1. 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. Idiom Examples: Common Expressions and Their Meanings. Biting the bullet and finally doing something that you have been avoiding can bring a sense of relief. The phrase can also be used to describe someone who has already faced a difficult situation with courage and determination. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. DICTIONARY bite the bullet verb To endure a punishment or consequence with dignity or stoicism. 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 . This may or may not be true - but the idiom has lasted. 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. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Bite the bullet definition: to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Many idioms become a cliche in their use, meaning they are overused or create a stereotype. bite the bullet (also: take one's medicine like a man) volume_up. The Sepoys, who didn't eat beef . I thought this idioms came from the Civil War in the US? Mary has to learn to bite the bullet and face her fears of flying. Cambridge University Press, 2013. To bear up in an unpleasant or a difficult situation. I know she's disappointed to have not gotten her dream job, but the sooner she bites the bullet and accepts it, the sooner she can move on. 'Bite on the bullet, old man, and don't let them think you're afraid.'" Bite the bullet. 4 The Economist A time might come when you have to bite the bullet yourself. . : Amz Digital Services, 2012. Rather, it means theyre nervous about something. 1, 2, 3, 4 Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Getting your car repaired is often an expensive business, but all you can do is bite the bullet and pay up. For example, around the holidays you might find yourself saying, I really dont like having the in-laws over for more than a few days, but Ill just have to bite the bullet. Read up on these everyday phrases with surprisingly dark origins. Definition of to bite the bullet in the Idioms Dictionary. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Yes! 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. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Playing the audition game. 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. Sentence Examples The rational alternative is more attractive to most people, but you reject this alternative and bite the bullet, along with the others. What does bite the bullet, to expression mean? 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. 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 anaesthesia. My car broke down in the middle of nowhere. 2. Going to prison forced me to bite the bullet and stop drinking., The CEO bit the bullet and surrendered to demands for him to step down from his post.. The phrase likely stems from Revolutionary times (or earlier) as it has been recorded sporadically through the last few centuries as chewing the bullet in military jargon. Rudyard Kipling's 1891 novel, The Light that Failed offers one of the earliest surviving written accounts of the phrase. Im afraid Ive bad news for you. Now that you know where the phrase bite the bullet comes from, here are the origins of other commonly used idioms. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Together, we must brace ourselves. Jim bit the bullet and accepted what he knew had to be. 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. YouTube uses cookies to track views of embedded videos. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016 where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. 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. Bite on the bullet, old man, and dont let them think youre afraid,' in his bookThe Light That Failed. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. bite the bullet. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! The origin of the phrase is uncertain, but one theory suggests that it comes from battlefield medicine practices in the 19th century, where soldiers were sometimes given a bullet to bite down on during a surgical procedure in order to help them endure the pain. 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. You are just going to have to bite the bullet and make the best of it. Morgan is the Senior Production Editor at Trusted Media Brands. Here are example sentences : My car broke down in the middle of nowhere. An adjective phrase is a group of words that describe a noun or pronoun in a sentence. 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. 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. I hate going to the dentist, but I'll just have to bite the bullet. She bit the bullet when she realized there was no way out of this situation. 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.. For other uses, see Bite the bullet (disambiguation). 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? To face a painful situation bravely and stoically. For example, someone might say that a cancer patient has bitten the bullet and endured a painful course of treatment, or that a soldier has bitten the bullet and faced danger and adversity in combat. A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. bite the bullet, to; bite the dog that bit you; bite the dust; bite the dust, to; Advertising cookies are used to serve personalized ads. This terminology is probably much older than cowboy pop culture made famous in television series and romanticized novels. 2 The New York Times "You bite the bullet". This is where the phrase originates from. It is often used in a supportive or motivating tone to help someone face a challenging experience head-on. The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.,3Ammer, Christine. 8Ammer, Christine. Bullet - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. The figurative term may actually refer to how early guns worked. Although we werent happy with the audit results, we. Skyhorse Publishing, 2014. Application for Employment We are looking for qualified teachers, administrators, and other support staff members. To bite the bullet means to face difficulty head-on and with courage. Edmund Burke. Its a fairly popular term, especially as a pop cultural cliche. 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. I had an unbearable toothache, so I bit the bullet and visited a dentist. [journalism] Tour operators may be forced to bite the bullet and cut prices. Today, the phrase is used more broadly to encourage someone to face any difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and determination. When "bite the bullet" was first used as an idiom The first known time this phrase was used as an idiom was in 1891. 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. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Third-party cookies like YouTube and Google Advertising cookies are not necessary for the functioning of the site and can be disabled at your preference. After fishing for an hour he still had not had a bite. to avoid showing fear or discomfort in an unpleasant situation Example Sentences When the time comes, I'll bite the bullet and take my punishment without a fuss. Origin of "Bite the Bullet" For each question, replace a word or words in a sentence with the idiom so that the meaning of the sentence is not changed. Privacy Policy. Another theory stems from the Indian Rebellion of 1857. 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. 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. Example Sentences With "Bite the bullet" . 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. Certainly this was the meaning in Rudyard Kiplings. to bite the bullet. "A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts.It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never . 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. 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. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Brave and courageous adventurous adventurously audacious ballsy be man enough to do something idiom fearless fearlessly gallant gallantly Definition of bite the bullet, to in the Idioms Dictionary. Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary. So soldiers bit the bullet to be able to endure the pain of surgery without anaesthesia. 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. A passage reads: "'Steady, Dickie, steady!' said the deep voice in his ear, and the grip tightened. phrase. Lets do an exercise to better remember the Idiom. Heres what another strange saying close, but no cigar really means. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,4McIntosh, Colin. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. noun. [journalism] Tour operators may be forced to bite the bullet and cut prices. and On the battlefield, what was primarily available was a bullet or a leather strap. The phrase "bit the bullet" means to accept the reality and then face the consequences. Top ranked example: Those who aren't may have to bite the bullet later on in life. 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