5/3/2023 0 Comments Meaning of biting the bulletThe phrase “chew a bullet” is close enough to convince some scholars to consider it an iteration of “bite the bullet.” Another interesting theory comes from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the practice of biting off the paper cartridge used for rifles. It is a point of honour in some regiments, among the grenadiers, never to cry out, or become nightingales, whilst under the discipline of the cat of nine tails to avoid which, they chew a bullet. In the book, he wrote:Ī soldier who, as the term is, sings out at the halberts. This was done in an effort to decrease pain and distract the patient.Ī slightly different version of the phrase was recorded in Francis Grose’s 1796 book, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. It likely began earlier, though, with the practice of literally biting on a bullet while undergoing a medical procedure. ‘Bite on the bullet, old man, and don’t let them think you’re afraid,’ ‘Steady, Dickie, steady!’ said the deep voice in his ear, and the grip tightened. The first popular recorded use of the phase was in Rudyard Kipling’s novel The Light that Failed, published in 1891. Sometimes they might have the opposite effect a writer intends with they use one too frequently or in strange situations. Some, those which the most popular, often come across as cliche or obvious. But, there are some situations in which idioms are less helpful than they are convincing. They make dialogue feel more realistic and believable, especially if everything around the idiom makes sense too. They fit into speech in a way that allows readers to feel connected to the writing. Writers use “bite the bullet” in dialogue and descriptions for the same reasons that they use other popular idioms. Dale decided to bite the bullet and confess to murdering his uncle, Winston.Ugh, I’m biting the bullet and starting this project over.I think it’s time for one of them to bite the bullet and talk about their relationship. Margie and Alice are headed to the beach.Freddy told me that he’s finally going to bite the bullet and clean his house.
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