bite the bullet

phrase

: to enter with resignation upon a difficult or distressing course of action

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of bite the bullet was in 1844

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Style

“Bite the bullet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bite%20the%20bullet. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 24 Feb 2026 - Definition revised

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bite the bullet

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