bite
1. verb To respond to an invitation or ad, often a dishonest or misleading one. I tried to trick my brother into cleaning my room, but he didn't bite. I can't believe you bought this ridiculous thing. Geez, I guess they knew that, if they put enough ads out there, some sucker would bite. Give it up—there's no offer you could make that would get me to bite on that.
2. verb To be bad or seem ominous. I'm surprised he was nice to you—he usually bites. If the boss hasn't had her coffee yet, look out, because she can bite. My one aunt is always very nice, but the other one tends to bite.
3. verb To steal or take something. Aw man, somebody bit my notes, so I couldn't study at lunch. Did someone bite my bike? I swear, I only left it outside for five minutes! My dumb sister is always biting my clothes. They vanish from my closet before I've even had a chance to wear them!
4. verb, slang To be annoying or disappointing. Oh, that TV show bites. This season has been so stupid that I just can't watch it. A: "The train's running an hour late? Man, that bites." B: "I know, I won't get home till after 9:00 now." Saturday detention bites. I can't believe I have to spend my whole day here.
5. noun A meal, especially one that is small or is quick to prepare or eat. A shortening of the phrase "a bite to eat." We don't have a lot of time, so let's just grab a quick bite before the movie starts. Let's pull off at the next rest stop to grab a bite. I'm OK, actually—I managed to get a bite at the airport before my flight took off.
bite (one) in the arse
rude slang To inflict punishment or misfortune on one for one's poor judgment or misdeed(s). Typically the punishment or misfortune is not exacted by a person, but as a general consequence for the misbehavior itself. Primarily heard in UK. Your poor treatment of your employees might come back to bite you in the arse some day. I got too greedy with my gambling, and now it has bitten me in the arse. You're failing three subjects? Wow, I guess spending so much time with your new girlfriend has bitten you in the arse, huh?
bite (one) in the ass
rude slang To inflict punishment or misfortune on one for one's poor judgment or misdeed(s). Typically the punishment or misfortune is not exacted by a person, but as a general consequence for the misbehavior itself. Your poor treatment of your employees might come back to bite you in the ass some day. I got too greedy with my gambling, and now it has bitten me in the ass. You're failing three subjects? Wow, I guess spending so much time with your new girlfriend has bitten you in the arse, huh?
bite (one's) lip
To forcibly prevent oneself from exhibiting an outward reaction to something, especially that which makes one angry, irritated, or upset. I just had to bite my lip while the boss yelled at me for losing the account. If someone tries to provoke you, just bite your lip and keep walking. I had to bite my lip as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend yet again.
bite (one's) nails
1. Literally, to chew on one's fingernails and shorten them. I wish I didn't bite my nails, but it's been such a hard habit to try to break. My sister gets regular manicures to keep from biting her nails. A: "Hey, quit biting your nails!" B: "Sorry, it's a nervous habit."
2. To nervously await something. I've been biting my nails ever since I submitted my application for my first-choice college. There's nothing else we can do except bite our nails and wait for the realtor to call with an update. Carrie's been biting her nails all week, but the doctor finally called with her test results, and everything is fine.
bite back
1. To stop oneself from saying something that is potentially inappropriate, hurtful, or offensive. I had to bite back a snarky comment as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend. I bit back the rude comments that were dancing at the tip of my tongue. She had to keep biting back her anger as the CEO continued to discredit her work.
2. To retaliate against a verbal attack. I wouldn't talk badly about Tiffany, if I were you—she bites back. I mean, you heard the vicious rumor she started about the girl who stole her boyfriend! Come on, we have to bite back! They can't just say these awful things about us and get away with it! It's so frustrating when my mom makes comments about my appearance and I feel like I can't bite back.
3. To retaliate by biting, as by an animal. The dog lunged at the cat, and the cat bit back. It seems that their dog scared my dog, and she bit back. That animal looks feral to me—and liable to bite back if provoked!
bite down
1. To bite very hard and purposefully (on something). I nearly lost a tooth biting down on that apple! I knew there was something wrong with the burger the moment I bit down. As soon as she bit down on her sandwich, her loose tooth came out!
2. To clench one's teeth very firmly. I keep trying to give the dog her pills, but she's biting down so hard that I can't get them into her mouth. The field surgeons didn't have any anesthetic, so the poor man had to just bite down while they operated. The doctor finally had to give Sally a syringe of liquid medicine because she would bite down every time he got close to her with the pills.
bite down on (something)
1. To bite very hard and purposefully on something. I nearly lost a tooth biting down on that apple! She bit down on the man's hand to get him to let go of her. As soon as she bit down on her sandwich, her loose tooth came out!
2. To repress or hold back something, especially an emotion. I bit down on the rude comments that were dancing at the tip of my tongue. She had to keep biting down on her anger as the CEO continued to discredit her work. I had to bite down on a snarky remark as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend.
bite in (something)
To repress or hold back something, especially an emotion. I bit in the rude comments that were dancing at the tip of my tongue. She had to keep biting in her fury as the CEO continued to discredit her work. I had to bite in a snarky remark as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend.
bite into (someone)
To cause one physical pain, as of the wind. When I couldn't stand the icy wind biting into me anymore, I ran for the ski lodge. You need to bundle the kids up so the wind doesn't bite into them at the bus stop. Without a hat and scarf, this frigid wind will bite into you in no time.
bite into (something)
Literally, to clench between one's teeth, as of food. I can't wait to bite into my hamburger—I'm so hungry! Unfortunately, I didn't realize the casserole was still cold until I bit into it. As soon as she bit into her sandwich, her loose tooth came out!
bite off
To use the teeth to pull off something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bite" and "off." We had to take the dog to the vet after he bit off and ate a piece of a questionable-looking plant. Once the lollipop was soft enough, I bit it off the stick No wings for me, thanks. I really don't like biting meat off the bone.
bite off more than (one) can chew
To take on more responsibility than one can handle. I bit off more than I could chew when I volunteered to manage three little league teams in one season. Lucy, it's OK to admit you've bitten off more than you can chew. These are two big projects you're juggling now. I worry that she wants to do too many extracurriculars. I mean, she's only 13—I don't want her biting off more than she can chew.
bite on (something or someone)
1. Literally, to use the teeth to hold or take something; to chew on something. We had to take the dog to the vet after he bit on that questionable-looking plant. The teething baby bit on her rattle. See, the cat's happy as can be—she's off in the corner biting on one of her crinkly little balls.
2. To be attracted to someone or something with an appealing, but ultimately false, promise. The fish are not biting on my lure today—do I need to use different bait? I can't believe those freshmen bit on the promise of going to a big party tonight. Once they get here, we're going to make them wash our gear instead! You really bought that ridiculous thing? Geez, I guess they knew that, if they put enough ads out there, some sucker would bite on them.
3. To imitate or copy another person in some way. My little sister is constantly biting on me because she likes how I dress—it's so annoying! Naturally, his success has ushered in many copycats biting on his art style. I know he's your favorite author, but you can't bite on his entire plot like that.
bite the big one
slang
1. To die. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we could have bitten the big one! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already bitten the big one?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll bite the big one.
2. To fail or break down completely. This car served me well for nearly 20 years, but it finally bit the big one yesterday. The company could end up biting the big one if their new product turns out to be a flop. I was going to make a smoothie, but I think the blender's bit the big one.
3. To be remarkably bad, unpleasant, disappointing, or upsetting. Well, that movie bit the big one. I wish I could get my money back! Yeah, I heard that class bites the big one. Saturday detention bites the big one. I can't believe I have to spend my whole day here.
bite the biscuit
1. To die, break down, or become defunct. We all have to bite the biscuit someday. I drove that truck everywhere for 25 years, but it finally bit the biscuit yesterday. Sadly, it doesn't take long for the latest technological innovations to bite the biscuit.
2. To face up to, undertake, or confront some unpleasant or risky situation, action, or responsibility. You were the only person here when the television broke, so you might as well bite the biscuit and tell me the truth. I guess we'd better bite the biscuit and get this over with. I don't actually enjoy cleaning, but I bite the biscuit and do it so that everything in my house isn't covered in a thick layer of dust.
bite the bullet
To do or accept something unpleasant, often after a period of hesitation. The phrase is thought to have come from the military, perhaps because biting a bullet was a common practice for patients, due to a lack of anesthesia. I don't actually enjoy cleaning, but I bite the bullet and do it so that everything in my house isn't covered in a thick layer of dust. I know she's disappointed to have not gotten her dream job, but the sooner she bites the bullet and accepts it, the sooner she can move on. I guess we'd better bite the bullet and get this over with.
bite the dog that bit you
To again ingest something that recently made one ill, especially drinking more alcohol in order to cure a hangover. A: "You need to bite the dog that bit you if you want to feel better." B: "Ew, no! I'm never touching vodka ever again!" All that beer has left me feeling terrible this morning, but I know the only cure is to bite the dog that bit you, so, bottoms up! A: "Here, it's time to bite the dog that bite you." B: "Get that away from me—the smell of alcohol is enough to make me throw up!"
bite the dust
slang
1. Of a person, to die. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we might have bitten the dust! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already bitten the dust?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll bite the dust.
2. Of a machine, to be near a complete breakdown or loss of functionality. Judging by all that noise coming from her car, I'm pretty sure it's about to bite the dust. I have to go buy a new blender because mine bit the dust today. The company could end up biting the dust if their new product turns out to be a flop.
3. To become unpopular or irrelevant. Sadly, it doesn't take long for the latest technological innovations to bite the dust. Don't even bother getting the latest model of smartphone—those things bite the dust in no time. I thought record players had bitten the dust, but my teen daughters just love mine.
bite the hand that feeds (you)
To scorn or poorly treat those on whom you depend or derive benefit. You might not agree with your parents' rules, but be careful about biting the hand that feeds you, because you owe everything you have to them. In politics, if you bite the hand that feeds, benefactors can very quickly crush your political future. Yeah, I wouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. The women in the admin office may be chatty, but they are the key to getting anything done around here.
nail-biting
Causing intense anxiety or nervousness, usually implying an uncertain outcome that will have important consequences. Forsberg's late goal has tied the game and created a nail-biting final period. We felt confident going into election day, but it's been a nail-biting last few hours.
What's biting (someone)?
What's bothering someone? Why is someone in a bad mood? What's biting Terry today? I asked him how his weekend was and he just glared at me. I've never seen her act that way before. What's biting her?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.