take the bull by the horns

Cultural  

1. Take the initiative in confronting a difficult position: “You'll never decide what you want in life by just thinking about it; you must take the bull by the horns and try out a few possibilities.”

---

take the bull by the horns Idioms  

1. Confront a problem head-on, as in We'll have to take the bull by the horns and tackle the Medicare question. This term most likely alludes to grasping a safely tethered bull, not one the matador is fighting in the ring. [c. 1800]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take the bull by the horns

"We really need the government to take the bull by the horns and start tackling the food and drink industry."

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

If your family has been slow to celebrate the debut of 2021, now may be the time to take the bull by the horns.

From New York Times ● Feb. 11, 2021

"To me, it's an opportunity for somebody to stand up, step up and take the bull by the horns," Matheny said about available options, including candidates down in the minor leagues.

From Reuters ● Apr. 27, 2015

Samsa decided to take the bull by the horns.

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 21, 2013

Joan decided to take the bull by the horns.

From Why Joan? by Kelly, Eleanor Mercein

Related Words

• allow
• challenge
• confront
• encounter
• endure
• experience
• fight
• meet
• oppose
• risk
• run into
• suffer
• take