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Question

Difficulty: EasyIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

In the sentence below, what does the underlined idiomatic expression mean?

'Facing a severe revenue deficit, the chief executive officer decided to bite the bullet and implement the painful restructuring plan.'

  1. face a painful or difficult situation with courageAnswer
  2. B
    physically bite down on metal objects to relieve stress
  3. C
    postpone making hard choices until conditions improve
  4. D
    blame external financial consultants for the revenue loss

Answer

The expression 'bite the bullet' means to face a painful or difficult situation with courage.
The idiom 'bite the bullet' means to force oneself to undergo something difficult or unpleasant stoically. In the context of administrative decision-making during a financial crisis, it means courageously accepting the necessity of a hard decision.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The chief executive officer must implement an uncomfortable restructuring plan due to financial difficulty.
Contextual clues point to accepting an unpleasant but necessary action.
2
Identify the figurative meaning of 'bite the bullet'
The idiom means accepting an unavoidable, tough situation bravely.
Idiomatic expressions convey non-literal meanings established through conventional usage.

Key Concept

Contextual interpretation of idiomatic expressions
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Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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