bite the bullet
Meaning
To face an unpleasant or difficult situation bravely and do it because it’s necessary, even though you don’t want to.
Origin
Often linked to pre-anesthetic battlefield surgery, where a patient might bite a bullet to endure pain; it became a metaphor for enduring hardship.
Notes
Implies reluctant courage: you don’t like it, but you accept it as necessary. Common in conversation and business. Can sound blunt if used about serious hardship.
Examples
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I didn’t want to pay the fine, but I had to bite the bullet and settle it today.
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After months of delays, the team finally bit the bullet and launched the new website.
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If you bite the bullet now and start saving, you’ll thank yourself later.
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She bit the bullet and apologized, even though it was uncomfortable.
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We may have to bite the bullet and replace the old server before it crashes again.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as “bite the bullet” after a subject: “I’ll bite the bullet and…”; tense can change (bit/has bitten). Often followed by an and + verb phrase.
Synonyms
- grin and bear it
- face the music
- steel yourself
- take the plunge
- swallow your pride
Antonyms
- avoid it
- back out
- chicken out
- put it off
- take the easy way out