English · Emotions & Feelings
bite the bullet
/baɪt ðə ˈbʊl.ɪt/
[/baɪt ðə ˈbʊl.ɪt/]
endure something hard
Intermediatephrase
Definition
To force yourself to do something unpleasant or to endure a painful situation bravely.
Example
I finally bit the bullet and booked the dentist appointment I'd been dreading for months.
I finally bit the bullet and booked the dentist appointment I'd been dreading for months.
Etymology
Possibly from battlefield surgery before anaesthetic, when patients bit a bullet to bear the pain.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for steeling oneself to do something difficult.