Q
Why do we say 'bite the bullet'?
A
Expert Answer
Originates from battlefield surgery before anesthesia—patients literally bit bullets to cope with pain during amputations. It came to mean facing a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage. The first recorded use is from Rudyard Kipling in 1891.
Key Insight
Originates from battlefield surgery before anesthesia—patients literally bit bullets to cope with pain during amputations.
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