When you eventually do something difficult or unpleasant that you’ve been hesitating over, you can say you “bite the bullet.”
But this idiom can also mean you were forced into doing something. In English, some people even use “bite the bullet” when trying to explain how they had to endure a punishment, ordeal or consequence.
The point is, using “bite the bullet” is fine, but it’s not specific enough especially when you want to sound understandable yet still creative.
In this article, we’ve gathered 20 different ways you can say “bite the bullet” without losing the innate meaning behind the expression.
Key Takeaways
- The main thing is to use simple words that express the idea of confronting or dealing with a difficult or unpleasant situation.
- If you still want to stick with the idea of using idioms, then you can replace “bite the bullet” with “face the music.”
- If you want to avoid idioms and use clear words, it’s better to say “take the risk” or “embrace the challenge” depending on the context.
The replacement you use for “bite the bullet” really depends on what you’re trying to communicate.
At Phraseably, we believe that knowing the origin and actual meaning of idioms can give you a clearer idea of what alternative phrase is best suitable.
Context Matters: “Bite the Bullet” Actual Meaning
Like most idioms, “bite the bullet” has an interesting origin.
During the US Civil War, the big lead bullets often broke bones completely when they hit. The only way to treat this was to cut off the damaged limb.
Since there was no anesthesia, patients had to bite down on a bullet to cope with the intense pain.
The amputation happened whether the soldier wanted it or not—it was the only way to survive. “Biting the bullet” became a way of accepting something difficult but necessary.
With this in mind, check out our list of alternative phrases for “bite the bullet” and pick the one that works best for your situation.
List of the Best Other Ways to Say “Bite the Bullet”
- Face the music
- Take the plunge
- Grin and bear it
- Pull the trigger
- Take the risk
- Take it on the chin
- Make the tough call
- Go through with it
- Buckle down
- Bear the brunt
- Take the bull by the horns
- Push through
- Ride it out
- Suck it up
- Do the hard thing
- Get it over with
- Embrace the challenge
- Face reality
- Deal with it head-on
- Swallow the pill
The main idea is to use words in a way that shows you have to do something important, even if you really don’t want to.
Today, the phrase “bite the bullet” is used in a similar way to accepting and pushing through a tough situation. It’s a bit like the modern phrase “suck it up.”
Keep reading to learn the best times to use each of the suggested alternative phrases.
1. Face the music
“Face the music” is one of the most interesting ways you can tell someone to do something that is necessary, especially when they find it unpleasant.
That’s why it’s an accurate alternative way to say “Bite the bullet.”
Indeed, both phrases are similar in terms of being idioms. So someone with a sound English understanding will understand.
2. Take the plunge
“Take the plunge” is another interesting idiom that shares similar meaning with “bite the bullet” which means you can use both interchangeably.
You can use this substitute especially in cases where the person has to commit to a course of action they are nervous about.
3. Grin and bear it
When you consider the origin of the phrase “bite a bullet,” you realize that those soldiers had to grin and bear the pain of being amputated while they bite the bullet.
You can take that scenario, apply it to the case at hand, and make it more creative. That’s why the phrase “grin and bear it” sounds better than “bite the bullet” in some cases.
We recommend making this substitute when it has to do with bearing pain or going through tough times for dignity or stoicism.
4. Pull the trigger
There’s nothing wrong in using another phrase when trying to communicate “bite the bullet” in a different way. You can say “pull the trigger.” They both mean the same thing.
But it makes more sense to swap to “pull the trigger” when someone has to make a final decision
For example, if you don’t want to waste your time with something, you can just bite the bullet or pull the trigger.
5. Take the risk
Many people use the phrase “bite the bullet” when making purchase decision with uncertainty. In such a scenario, it’s clearer to say “take the risk.”
It could even be about making an investment decision. Biting a bullet in such a context would mean to do something that may result in loss, failure.
In such instances, you can always swap the idiom with “take the risk” so that you won’t be misinterpreted. Sometimes, it’s better to use simple, clear words.
6. Take it on the chin
If you’re looking for a more creative way to communicate the idea of “biting the bullet”, then consider saying “take it on the chin.”
This alternative phrase is an idiom too. But it is best fit for situations where you want the person to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation bravely and without making a lot of fuss about it.
7. Make the tough call
A tough call in English means a hard decision. That is exactly the idea behind biting the bullet. So you can replace “bite the bullet” with “make a tough call” and you will still communicate the same thing.
But we recommend using “tough call” in a situation where you want to encourage someone to deliver bad news or do something that will not “go down” very well with people involved.
8. Go through with it
When you bite the bullet, you’re going through with it. This means you’re doing something that has been discussed or thought about, especially something that is difficult or unpleasant.
In other words, you can always replace “bite the bullet” with “go through with it.”
For example, if someone has always been threatening to quit their job, they may never be able to go through with it (or bite the bullet).
9. Buckle down
The general idea behind saying “buckle down” is to encourage someone to work hard, especially if they are underperforming.
Teachers use this alot when motivating students to do better in their academic grades. So it sounds more accurate for such contexts than to say “bite the bullet.”
Of course, you’re going to be bearing the cost and pain of avoiding distractions when buckling down. So both phrases are connected.
10. Bear the brunt
Another creative way you can say “bite the bullet” is to use the idiom, “bear the brunt.”
When someone bears the brunt, it means they endure the worst or main force of something harmful or dangerous.
It shares a lot of similarities with the message behind biting the bullet which is why you can use both phrases interchangeably.
We recommend using this swap when the pain endured on a large scale. For example, when talking about how young people are “bearing the brunt” of unemployment
11. Take the bull by the horns
“Take the bull by the horns” means to deal with a difficult situation in a very direct or confident way.
This is the main thing people mean when they say you should bite the bullet. In other words, it’s logically correct to substitute each phrase for each other.
Taking the bull by the horns is a quite popular expression. So you won;t have to bother about someone taking you out of context. It’s also an idiom like biting the bullet.
12. Push through
Since “biting the bullet” has an undertone of perseverance and grit, you can use simpler words to pass the same message. So, the phrase “push through” is another solid replacement for “bite the bullet.”
However, how you use this term in a sentence can change its entire meaning. It’s one thing to push through a difficult situation. It’s a different thing to push something through.
You can push a deal through to ensure it gets signed. But you push through a difficult situation based on perseverance.
13. Ride it out
Sometimes, you want a different way to say “bite a bullet” but still want to sound suitable for a formal situation.
“Ride it out” is the perfect replacement for such situations. When you ride something out, it means you continue to exist during a difficult situation and until it ends, without serious harm.
This term is what many companies use to encourage themselves when going through a financial crisis. They say, “We’ll ride it out.”
14. Suck it up
One of the most common and casual ways people say “bite the bullet” is “suck it up.”
It’s the best substitute you can use especially when talking among friends or in any informal setting.
“Suck it up” means to accept something unpleasant or difficult, especially from a place of dignity. This is the core message idea behind biting a bullet.
15. Do the hard thing
Since biting the bullet is a phrase about surviving hardship or any tough experience, you can be clearer in your communication by saying “do the hard thing” instead.
This time, you don’t have to think about sounding creative or figurative when encouraging someone to do something difficult but necessary.
16. Get it over with
Getting through a difficult situation or making a tough decision can be unavoidable no matter how long you hesitate.
So the main encouragement behind “biting the bullet” is to stop wasting time and just go for it.
With this in mind, you can also tell the person “get it over with” instead of saying “bite the bullet.”
To get something over with, is to finally decide to address the matter after a period of stalling, tolerating, hesitating or delaying.
17. Embrace the challenge
When you bite the bullet, it also means to accept a difficult situation or opportunity with enthusiasm. WIth this understanding, it makes sense to replace the idiom with something clearer like “embrace the challenge.”
Of course, this alternative phrase will make more sense if the “challenge” is something one can use as an opportunity for growth.
18. Face reality
In the scenario at hand, the “bullet” you’re encouraging someone to bite may be their reality. They may not like it, it may be unpleasant, but they have to face it head-on anyway.
So it sounds befitting when you say “face reality” instead of “bite the bullet.”
19. Deal with it head-on
Dealing with something head-on is similar to biting a bullet because both phrases are all about addressing something directly, even if it’s difficult.
So you can use them in place of the other.
This replacement best suits a situation when you want to be in direct opposition, confrontation, or contradiction
20. Swallow the pill
Swallow the pill” sounds deeper and creative than “bite the bullet”
But idioms share the same meaning of accepting a difficult or unpleasant situation or fact.
But “swallow the pill” tilts more towards having to live with bad news. So it won’t really be befitting to use it in context where action is involved.
Wrapping Up
All the phrases mentioned in the article share a common meaning: pushing through and doing something tough or unpleasant because it’s necessary.
Some phrases lean toward taking a risk out of nervousness or uncertainty about the outcome, but most focus on facing a challenge simply because it has to be done.
Which of them is your prefered phrase to use? You can share in the comment section.
