take the bull by the horns
take the bull by the horns,
also, grab the bull by the horns
Meaning
- decisively deal with a difficult or dangerous situation
- to deal with a problematic situation confidently
- to handle a risky situation very bravely
- deal decisively with a difficult problem
Example Sentences
- Jone decided to take the bull by the horns and organise things for himself.
- The British government will have to take the bull by the horns and tackle inflation.
- The administration decided to take the bull by the horns and solved the problem without any further delay.
- Just take the bull by the horns and strictly ask him to stop abusing.
- The captain took the bull by the horns to give his side a fighting chance of rescuing a point.
- Alex took the bull by the horns, sending the message that political resilience in the party has taken a back seat to power and positions.
- The opposition took the bull by the horns and, after lengthy discussions, decided to participate.
- The administration has grabbed the bull by the horns and carried out unprecedented top to bottom reforms.
- If you want to win, then go ahead and grab the bull by the horns.
- Leadership starts with a person’s capability to look in the mirror and grab the bull by the horns.
Origin
The saying undoubtedly originated in America, where it was a common but risky job to struggle with bulls. Controlling a bull was a part of rancher’s everyday working life throughout west America and often done for entertainment on festivals. To control a bull or a steer (a young bull), the cowhand would first catch it. Trying to grab the leg or neck of a dangerous animal like this was not a choice. The only solution was to take a deep breath and face the music straight by clutching the bull by the horns and then pulling it to the ground. This expression now means to challenge a problem directly without “beating about the bush.”
The earliest printed records of the phrase began to appear from the early 1700s.
About the Author
Elena Jones holds a PhD in Education from Harvard University. She has extensive experience teaching at both the Kâ12 and university levels, with a particular focus on English as a Second Language. Elena has dedicated her career to advancing educational practices, and she has contributed to numerous educational journals.
Share your opinions2 Opinions
“undoubtedly originated in America” – not so sure there is no doubt, the Spanish have been bull fighting since around 711 AD (long before the “wild west” of America) and this is also a Spanish idiom (“coger el toro por los cuernos”) and it would make natural sense to have had a bull-fighting connotation – so which came first? My money is not on America.
‒ James Horsley December 10, 2024
You are faced with the horns of a dilemma. You have three options. You can avoid the dilemma by going around it, but at the expense of not resolving it. You can be risky and attempt to go over the horns, but although you no longer face the dilemma, the dilemma remains. Or you can take the bull by the horns and attempt to resolve the dilemma.
‒ Salter October 21, 2023