Meaning
To force oneself to face a difficult, unpleasant, or painful situation with courage and get it over with.
It emphasizes making a tough decision after a period of hesitation.
Origin
Historically believed to originate from military field medicine before anesthesia, where wounded soldiers were given a lead bullet to bite down on to endure pain during surgery.
Examples
I hate going to the dentist, but I just need to bite the bullet and book an appointment.
After months of delays, the company had to bite the bullet and cut costs.
Instead of worrying about the exam, bite the bullet and start studying tonight.
A: Should I tell the client about the delay now or wait?
B: Just bite the bullet and call them right away.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Bite the bullet' mean?
To force oneself to face a difficult, unpleasant, or painful situation with courage and get it over with.
It emphasizes making a tough decision after a period of hesitation.