What it means
Means you stop dodging the grim job and just do it, even if it’s gonna sting. Used for stuff like the dentist, an awkward chat, or finally paying that painful bill. The usual story is it comes from old battlefield surgery, where you’d bite a bullet to stop yourself screaming. Not exactly cheerful, but it’s bang on.
Usage examples
"I’ve been putting off the dentist for months, but I’ll bite the bullet tomorrow, get it sorted, then treat myself to a curry."
"I hate the dentist but the tooth was killing me, so I bit the bullet and booked in."
Where it comes from
The usual tale sends it back to the rough days of battlefield surgery, when a wounded soldier was handed a bullet to clamp between his teeth and bite down on while the surgeon worked with no anaesthetic. True or not, the image of gritting through the pain is what stuck.
Other ways to say it
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