If you've ever had to bite the bullet, you've endured some pain—but that there wasn't a bullet involved. So why do we use the phrase?
What Does the Saying “Bite the Bullet” Really Mean?
Updated on May 21, 2025
You’ve probably been told to “bite the bullet” at least once in your life. In-laws coming over for dinner? You’ll just have to bite the bullet and get through it! But what exactly is the meaning of bite the bullet, and where did this unusual phrase come from?
The story behind bite the bullet—like the origin stories of many everyday phrases—turns out to be darker than you might expect. Reader’s Digest gets to the bottom of this strange idiom, so you can be confident when you use it and regale your friends with your knowledge. Keep reading to learn more.
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What is bite the bullet’s meaning?
You probably know that the phrase bite the bullet doesn’t literally involve biting down on a real bullet. Instead, it captures the idea of summoning the courage to push through a painful or uncomfortable situation. As Merriam-Webster puts it, bite the bullet means “to enter with resignation upon a difficult or distressing course of action.”
What is the origin of bite the bullet?
There are a few different theories of where bite the bullet comes from. The most well-known has to do with pain relief. Can you imagine having surgery without anesthetics? Today you don’t have to, but back before anesthesia existed, people had to endure painful procedures with nothing to knock them out. Biting down on something hard, like a bullet, distracted them from the pain and also kept them from biting their tongue (and screaming).
Francis Grose describes soldiers using a bullet to keep from crying out during punishment in his 1796 book, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:
“A soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts [a punishment post]. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, or become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails; to avoid which, they chew a bullet.”
Another theory of the origin of bite the bullet traces back to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, an uprising against the British East India Company’s rule in India. At the time, rifle ammunition came packaged in a paper cartridge that needed to be bitten off by soldiers before they could load the ammo into their guns. When Sepoys—native Indian troops of Muslims and Hindus—heard that the cartridges were greased with pork and beef fat, many refused to fight because the grease violated their religious beliefs. Therefore, if they bit the bullet, they were forced to do something against their religious beliefs.
When did bite the bullet start to be used as an idiom?
The phrase first appeared as an idiom in 1891, when Rudyard Kipling used it in The Light That Failed:
“‘Steady, Dickie, steady!’ said the deep voice in his ear, and the grip tightened. ‘Bite on the bullet, old man, and don’t let them think you’re afraid.'”
Another notable example appeared in 1923, when P.G. Wodehouse wrote in The Inimitable Jeeves:
“Brace up and bite the bullet. I’m afraid I’ve bad news for you.”
These examples demonstrate a shift from the literal to the figurative, and like other everyday idioms with fascinating histories, we now use them casually in everyday speech—no actual bullets necessary.
How do you use bite the bullet in everyday speech?
So what does bite the bullet mean now? Is it still relevant? Yes! Today, this idiom can add color and emphasis to our everyday conversations, and bite the bullet is often used to highlight moments of discomfort or resilience. Here are a few ways you might use bite the bullet in everyday life:
- “I didn’t want to go to the dentist, but the pain was getting worse—I had to bite the bullet and make the appointment.”
- “She hated public speaking, but she bit the bullet and gave the presentation anyway.”
- “They didn’t want to move out of their apartment, but with the rent increase, they had to bite the bullet and find a cheaper place.”
- “He bit the bullet and finally asked his boss for a raise.”
You may also hear this term in economic and political contexts, like when a government official has to do something he or his constituents might not like.
- “The governor had to bite the bullet and ask the legislature to pass a tax increase.”
- “The presidential candidate bit the bullet and conceded to his opponent.”
Separated from its original literal meaning, bite the bullet has timeless value today, embodying a “just do it” mentality of resilience and perseverance. In challenging times, a little stoic preparation can help get you through.
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Sources:
- A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
- History Net: “Dodging A Bullet: The Indian Rebellion”
- The Light That Failed by Rudyard Kipling
- The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
