How do you say “Bite the bullet” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is Hacer de tripas corazón, which literally means “To make heart out of guts”. English speakers use bite the bullet to mean to accept something unpleasant that cannot be avoided, and get on with it. An established expression for finding the courage to face something unpleasant. It is more colourful than a simple statement of resolve. Register: neutral, informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
Hacer de tripas corazón
/aˈseɾ de ˈtɾipas koɾaˈson/
- Literal meaning
- “To make heart out of guts”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
91 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
English bites down on a bullet. Spanish turns guts into heart, presenting courage as something you have to make for yourself.
Both fit an unpleasant step taken despite reluctance. The Spanish can sound more emotional when the English is just about accepting a practical expense.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
Armarse de valor
Literally: “To arm oneself with courage”
Focuses on gathering courage before acting.
Afrontar lo inevitable
Literally: “To face the inevitable”
A sober option when the unpleasant step cannot be avoided.
Common translation traps
Morder la bala
This does not normally express reluctant resolve in Spanish.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in Spanish.
In context
English
I bit the bullet and told her the truth.
Spanish
Hice de tripas corazón y le dije la verdad.
English
We must bite the bullet and pay for the repairs.
Spanish
Tenemos que hacer de tripas corazón y pagar las reparaciones.
Related expressions
- What “Bite the bullet” means in English
- Get cold feet, To become nervous and back out.
- A blessing in disguise, A misfortune that turns out well.
Last updated 2026-09-13