# bite the bullet

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To accept a negative aspect of a situation in order to proceed.
2. To accept an undesirable or counterintuitive implication of an argument or view.

## Etymology
Possibly from the reported practice of soldiers biting a bullet to avoid crying out in pain, usually during a medical procedure or punishment. See the Wikipedia article Bite the bullet for a further discussion of possible etymologies.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bite-the-bullet