bull

be full of crap/shit (British, American & Australian, taboo, American, very informal)

to often say stupid or wrong things. I wouldn't listen to what Jeremy says, he's always full of shit.

See also: crap, full, shit

be like a bull in a china shop

to often drop or break things because you move awkwardly or roughly. Rob's like a bull in a china shop - don't let him near those plants. She's like a bull in a china shop when it comes to dealing with people's feelings. (= behaves in a way that offends people)

See also: china, like, shop

be like a red rag to a bull

if a statement or an action is like a red rag to a bull, it makes someone very angry. For Claire, the suggestion of a women-only committee was like a red rag to a bull.

See also: like, rag, red

bull-headed

someone who is bull-headed is determined to do exactly what they want to do, and does not think about what other people want. He's completely bull-headed. I asked him not to throw out that old table, but he did it anyway.

a cock-and-bull story (informal)

a story or explanation which is obviously not true. She told me some cock-and-bull story about her car breaking down.

See also: story

John Bull (old-fashioned)

a character who represents a typical English man or the English people. In the cartoon, John Bull appears as a short, stocky figure wearing a waistcoat with the British flag on.

See also: john

like a bull at a gate

if you do something like a bull at a gate, you do it very quickly. Al wants to finish the shelves today so he's going at them like a bull at a gate.

See also: gate, like

shoot the breeze/bull (American, informal)

to talk in a relaxed way about things that are not important. We sat out on the porch until late, just shooting the breeze.

See also: breeze, shoot

take the bull by the horns

to do something difficult in a determined and confident way. Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?

See also: horn, take

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(as) strong as a bull

(as) strong as an ox

See also: strong

take the bull by the horns

to forcefully attack a difficult situation. I took the bull by the horns and confronted him about his drinking.

Etymology: based on the idea that holding a bull (= male cow) by its horns is a brave and direct action

See also: horn, take