Bite the bullet
/baɪt ðə ˈbʊlɪt/neutral, informalUK · US
What does “Bite the bullet” mean?
Bite the bullet means to accept something unpleasant that cannot be avoided, and get on with it.
To bite the bullet is to stop avoiding something, a cost, a conversation, a decision, and deal with it.
It implies reluctance followed by resolve, which is what separates it from simply "deciding".
When do people say it?
Used about a decision that has been postponed and can be postponed no longer.
“We bit the bullet and replaced the whole system.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral, informal. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
Nineteenth century, associated with enduring pain; the battlefield surgery story is often repeated but poorly evidenced.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Bite the bullet” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Get cold feet, To become nervous and back out.
- A blessing in disguise, A misfortune that turns out well.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11