A surgeon about to operate on a wounded soldier would urge him to bite on a bullet of soft lead to distract him from the pain at least it would minimize his ability to scream and thus divert the surgeon.
Although one can find other explanations, it seems most plausible that the term originated in battlefield surgery before the days of anesthesia. : : : : : BITE THE BULLET - "Brace yourself for an unpleasant experience decide to get on with a difficult task. : : : : : : Where does 'bite the bullet' come from? (Note: I apologize for using a sports example to begin this blog post, which can be exclusionary-however, the reference was to an event as opposed to the sport itself.In Reply to: Bite the bullet posted by Victoria S Dennis on August 23, 2005
#PHRASES THAT MEAN BITING THE BULLET PROFESSIONAL#
Please share your comments, I’d love to see what troublesome phrases others encounter in their personal and professional lives, as well as suggestions for alternative phrases. I encourage you to take some time to reflect.
I have decreased my use of these phrases, though I probably still use phrases I do not want to on occasion. After that, I try to avoid using these phrases – this means pausing and thinking about what I say before I say it, to check that I am not using these phrases. Then, I look up what the meaning and origin of the phrase is. The way I do this is by writing down phrases and idioms that I hear that utilize imagery or sound colloquial, as opposed to direct. If the basketball broadcaster had been more direct (e.g., “That was an incredible play by Russell Westbrook!”), it would have been clear what he was saying, and there would have been no hurtful references made.Īs I mentioned earlier, I’ve been reflecting on my own use of language. Most of the suggested alternatives to the phrases above use direct language and convey the message without using imagery. Using these phrases, or others like these, can unintentionally harm those around you. In addition, the expressions above, as well as others, continue legacies of phrases that have troublesome meanings or evoke violent or traumatic imagery. These colloquial phrases don’t add much meaning to a conversation. In addition, there are many phrases that reference guns and/or shooting, including (but not limited to) “shot in the dark,” “bite the bullet,” “shoot from the hip,” and “shoot yourself in the foot.” Originates from the US Civil War – referred to Confederates fighting Union soldiers to the last ditch or trench. This phrase refers to animal cruelty, and can be a gruesome image.
#PHRASES THAT MEAN BITING THE BULLET HOW TO#
The earliest origin was a debate about how to literally skin a cat – the debate was whether the skinning occurred when the cat was alive or dead. We never know if someone may have suicidal tendencies. This phrase makes a passing reference to suicide. There is connection to violence/killing/death May be influenced by the “do not cross” line in Civil War prisons, where it referred to a physical line or boundary beyond which prisoners were shot. This phrase is a reference to violence (e.g. “I’ll take the first stab/crack/cut at that” “A solution that works regardless of situation” This phrase makes references to weapons and killing (even though it was meant for supernatural beings) This figurative use derives from the use of actual silver bullets and the widespread folk belief that they were the only way of killing werewolves or other supernatural beings. Why should we refrain from using this phrase? Here is a short list of example expressions, their origin, why we should refrain from using the phrase, and a couple suggestions about what to say instead: Phrase Regrettably, upon reflection, I’ve used several of these phrases myself (and I’ve probably used them more often than my memory recalls). Whether in higher education, government, business, the workplace, or other settings, these phrases evoke references to or images of violence or discrimination. This phrase reminds me of other expressions that I’ve routinely heard over the course of my personal and professional life. Whether the announcer meant any of this or not, it is a hurtful saying that shouldn’t be used in any context (other than to show its roots and that it shouldn’t be used). The saying is an idiom that is still sometimes used, and is racist and makes references to slavery.
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