
ProverbWisdom
American origin1985
If you mess with the bull, you get the horns
Meaning: Confronting a dangerous opponent directly invites predictable retaliation.
Origin: Famous from The Breakfast Club (1985), in which the principal, Richard Vernon, warns John Bender: "Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns." The ranching image may be older, but no earlier source has been traced.
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