IdiomAnimals
English
Englishtake the bull by the horns
Meaning: To take action in a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: “Instead of waiting for a raise, she took the bull by the horns and asked for one.”
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
French: Prendre le taureau par les cornes Literally: To take the bull by the horns
Origin: The expression take the bull by the horns does not suggest that the person is necessarily responsible for the difficult situation in the same way that to face the music does.
More English idioms
- apple of one's eye A person or thing that is precious or loved above all else.
- big cheese An important, powerful or influential person.
- bite the dust To be destroyed or ruined beyond repair; slang for "to die".
- bitter pill to swallow A difficult or unpleasant reality to deal with.
- chew someone out To scold someone harshly.
- chew something over To think slowly and carefully about something.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tu as le vent en poupe Everything is going your way — you're riding a wave of momentum and success.
- Tu es un as You're brilliant at what you do — the very best.
- Tu as de la répartie You're brilliantly quick-witted — always ready with the perfect comeback.
Keep exploring