bite the bullet

Cultural  

1. To adjust to unpleasant circumstances: “The severe drought is forcing everybody to bite the bullet and use less water.” Before anesthesia, people undergoing surgery would bite on a bullet to help them withstand the pain.

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bite the bullet Idioms  

1. Behave bravely or stoically when facing pain or a difficult situation, as in If they want to cut the budget deficit, they are going to have to bite the bullet and find new sources of revenue. This phrase is of military origin, but the precise allusion is uncertain. Some say it referred to the treatment of a wounded soldier without anesthesia, so that he would be asked to bite on a lead bullet during treatment. Also, Francis Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1796) holds that grenadiers being disciplined with the cat-o'nine-tails would bite on a bullet to avoid crying out in pain.

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Example Sentences

Long-term investors should just bite the bullet and buy these.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

At 66, he wondered whether it was time to bite the bullet.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

"The emotion side is quite difficult, and then trying to manage that around work...do I bite the bullet and explain what's happening? Or keep having sick days and holidays?" she says.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

“But with a strong enough discount, people may bite the bullet and get one.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

I bite the bullet and rip off my shirt.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy