English
Etymology
From the past practice of soldiers bite|biting a bullet to avoid crying out in pain, usually during a medical procedure or punishment.
While this is given frequently as an etymology, 1 suggests that this is in fact incorrect, and the phrase derives instead from the practice of biting open paper cartridges.
Phrase
bite the bullet
- idiom To take a punishment or consequence with dignity or stoicism.
- idiom To accept a negative aspect in order to continue moving forward.
Related terms
take one's licks
Translations
rfc-level|Translations at L3+ (AutoFormat? would have corrected level of Related terms)
trans-top|take punishment
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|accept a negative aspect
German: in den sauren Apfel beissen
Russian: ��и�н��� з�б�
Swedish: bita i det sura äpplet
trans-mid
trans-bottom
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