bite the bullet

English

Etymology

Possibly from the reported practice of soldiers biting a bullet to avoid crying out in pain, usually during a medical procedure or punishment. (While this is given frequently as an etymology, this source suggests that the term derives instead from the practice of biting open paper cartridges.)

Verb

to bite the bullet (third-person singular simple present bites the bullet, present participle biting the bullet, simple past and past participle bit the bullet)

1. (idiomatic) To endure a punishment or consequence with dignity or stoicism.
2. (idiomatic) To accept a negative aspect of a situation in order to proceed.

Related terms

• take one's licks

Translations

endure punishment with dignity or accept a negative aspect of a situation

• Dutch: door de zure appel (heen) bijten (nl)
• Finnish: purra hammasta (fi) (bite the tooth)
• French: serrer les dents (fr) (clench the teeth)
• German: in den sauren Apfel beissen (de) (bite into the sour apple)

• Norwegian: bite i det sure eple (no) (bite into the sour apple)
• Russian: стиснуть зубы (ru) (stísnutʹ zúby) pf. (clench the teeth)
• Swedish: bita i det sura äpplet (sv) (bite into the sour apple)