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Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Complete the following sentence by supplying the missing word required to form the correct idiomatic expression.

Answer:Faced with declining corporate revenues and mounting operational debt, the chief executive officer finally decided to bite the 【bullet】 and announce major retrenchments.

Answer

The correct word to complete the idiomatic expression is 'bullet'.
The idiomatic expression 'to bite the bullet' means to force oneself to undergo something difficult or unpleasant, or to face a harsh reality bravely. In the context of a chief executive facing severe financial strain and having to announce job cuts, completing the phrase with 'bullet' accurately restores the fixed idiom.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to determine the intended idiomatic meaning.
The context describes facing an unavoidable, painful financial decision courageously.
Idioms in Use of English assessments rely on fixed lexical patterns that convey specific figurative meanings.
2
Identify the standard fixed phrase matching 'bite the _____'.
The established English idiom is 'to bite the bullet'.
The expression originates from historical practices and means to endure a painful situation with fortitude.

Key Concept

Fixed Idiomatic Expressions and Vocabulary in Context
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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