bullet

bite the bullet

to make yourself do something or accept something difficult or unpleasant. They decided to bite the bullet and pay the extra for the house they really wanted. Car drivers are biting the bullet after another rise in petrol prices.

See also: bite

sweat bullets (American, informal)

to be very worried or frightened. He was sweating bullets by the time the police had finished questioning him.

See also: sweat

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bite the bullet

to do or accept something difficult or unpleasant. We've all experienced unpleasant moments when we had to bite the bullet and apologize for something we did.

Etymology: based on the literal action of biting on bullets that was done by soldiers in the past who were operated on without drugs

See also: bite