Meaning of take the bull by the horns | Babel Free
Definitions
To deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.
idiomatic
Equivalents
Español
coger el toro por los cuernos
Suomi
ottaa härkää sarvista
Français
prendre le taureau par les cornes
Italiano
prendere il toro per le corna
Nederlands
de koe bij de hoorns vatten
Русский
взять быка за рога́
Svenska
ta tjuren vid hornen
Examples
“Wordsworth has a system which disposes him to take the bull by the horns and offend public taste.”
“"Then why couldn' ye take the bull by the horns an' march in by the front door?"”
“[H]e was ready to take the bull by the horns and pay for his meal himself.”
“In Korea General MacArthur took the bull by the horns and threw seven divisions into an all-out drive to clear North Korea.”
“"Should I tell her? Should I send someone else?" he said yesterday. "I took the bull by the horns. I gave her the diagnosis. It was the most difficult time of my life."”
CEFR level
C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.