IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchPrendre le taureau par les cornes
Meaning: To tackle a difficulty head-on instead of avoiding it.
Literally: To take the bull by the horns
Example: “Plutôt que de subir les rumeurs, elle a pris le taureau par les cornes et convoqué la presse.” — Instead of putting up with the rumors, she took the bull by the horns and called a press conference.
English equivalent: To take the bull by the horns
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: De koe bij de horens vatten Literally: To take the cow by the horns
Spanish: tomar el toro por los cuernos Literally: To take the bull by the horns
English: take the bull by the horns
Origin: Grasping the horns is the only way to face a charging bull that does not involve running, and it commits you completely. English formed the identical phrase from the same reasoning.
More French idioms
- Une tarte à la crème A tired cliché trotted out as though it were an argument.
- Décrocher la timbale To carry off the prize.
- Trier sur le volet To hand-pick with great care.
- À tue-tête At the top of one's voice.
- Dire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un To tell someone exactly what is wrong with them.
- Avoir la main verte To have a gift for growing plants.
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