AS IT IS 2016-09-04 Sometimes You Have to ‘Bite the Bullet’

AS IT IS 2016-09-04 Sometimes You Have to ‘Bite the Bullet’

Now, the weekly program Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On this program, we explore the history and usage¹ of common expressions in American English. We also give you examples of how we use these expressions in everyday conversation.

Today we explore expressions using the word “bullet.”

Now, of course, a bullet is what you shoot out of gun. And it comes out fast. In fact, that used to be the way to describe the speed of the superhero Superman -- he is “faster than a speeding bullet.”

And that is why very fast trains are often called "bullet trains."

Bullets are not only known for their speed. They are also known for their ability to kill.

However, not all bullets are bad. A magic bullet -- sometimes called a silver bullet -- is something that solves a difficult problem easily. We often use these two expressions in the negative, because usually there is not one thing that solves a difficult problem.

For example, let’s say a country is suffering from a weak economy. People lose their jobs. Some families lose their homes. This leads to an increase in mental and physical health issues. After many years of such conditions, people want change. So, they protest in the streets. Yet, there is no silver bullet to cure all these problems.

To take a bullet for someone is a good thing. Well, the thought behind this expression is a good thing. It means you are willing to put yourself in harm’s way to protect someone else.

This often sounds like a tough expression. Mothers might not say I’d take a bullet for their child, but they would. People in the military, however, might say, “I’d take a bullet for you, man.”

Now, we know that sweating is our body’s way of keeping cool. But we also sweat when we’re nervous. When you sweat bullets you are very nervous or anxious about something.

If you dodge² a bullet, you have successfully avoided a problem -- but barely³.

For example, let’s say you get up late for work. Your boss has already warned you that if you come in late again, you may get fired. When you arrive at the office, you are sweating bullets -- you are nervous and very worried that your boss will fire you. However, you need not worry. As it turns out, your boss is out sick that day. You have dodged⁴ a bullet.

To ease the pain of a difficult situation, people are sometimes asked to bite the bullet. This actually sounds like really bad advice.

What is the origin of this expression?

The story may go back to the American Civil War or even earlier. War is painful. And our bodies have many natural responses to pain. We tighten⁵ our fists, tense our muscles or clench⁶ our teeth.

Back during the Civil War, pain-killing drugs were often hard to find. So, doctors working on the battlefield would give their patients a piece of wood to squeeze or something soft to bite on. Many times the nearest thing was a soft, lead bullet.

Hollywood movies helped to keep this expression alive. In old western movies, more than one rugged⁷ cowboy was seen biting a bullet, perhaps drinking some strong whiskey, while removing an arrow from his body.

But that is in the movies. In modern conversation, “biting the bullet” means to accept a difficult decision or situation. It hints that a person has been putting off this difficult decision.

And that brings us to the end of Words and Their Stories.

If you want to perfect your English, there is no silver bullet. You must simply practice and study as much as you can. Hopefully, you will do that with us at VOA Learning English.

Words in This Story

negative – adj. thinking about the bad qualities of someone or something; thinking that a bad result will happen

anxious – adj. afraid or nervous especially about what may happen; feeling anxiety

tense – v. to make (a muscle) hard and tight

clench – v. to set (something) in a tightly⁸ closed position; to set or close tightly <clench one's teeth> <clench one's fists>

rugged – adj. seamed⁹ with wrinkles¹⁰ and furrows¹¹

whiskey – n. a strong alcoholic drink made from a grain (such as rye, corn or barley)

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 dodge   

v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计

参考例句：

• A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。
• The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

3 barely   

adv.仅仅，几乎没有，几乎不

参考例句：

• The male bird is barely distinguishable from the female.雄鸟和雌鸟几乎无法辨别。
• He took barely enough money to keep the children in bread.他赚很少的钱仅够孩子们勉强糊口。

4 dodged   

v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

6 clench   

vt.捏紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等），紧紧握住

参考例句：

• I clenched the arms of my chair.我死死抓住椅子扶手。
• Slowly,he released his breath through clenched teeth.他从紧咬的牙缝间慢慢地舒了口气。

7 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

8 tightly   

adv.紧紧地，坚固地，牢固地

参考例句：

• My child holds onto my hand tightly while we cross the street.横穿马路时，孩子紧拉着我的手不放。
• The crowd pressed together so tightly that we could hardly breathe.人群挤在一起，我们几乎喘不过气来。

9 seamed   

缝合，接合（seam的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• an old man with a brown seamed face 棕色的脸上布满皱纹的老人
• His face was seamed with sabre cuts. 他的脸上留有马刀砍下的伤痕。

10 wrinkles   

n.（尤指皮肤上的）皱纹( wrinkle的名词复数 )；皱褶；有用的建议；妙计v.使起皱纹( wrinkle的第三人称单数 )；（尤指皮肤）起皱纹

参考例句：

• There were fine wrinkles around her eyes. 她眼角上出现了鱼尾纹。
• His face was lined with wrinkles. 他的脸上都是皱纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 furrows   

n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I could tell from the deep furrows in her forehead that she was very disturbed by the news. 从她额头深深的皱纹上，我可以看出她听了这个消息非常不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dirt bike trails crisscrossed the grassy furrows. 越野摩托车的轮迹纵横交错地布满条条草沟。 来自辞典例句