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- take the bull by the horns
take the bull by the horns
take the bull by the horns
Fig. to confront a problem head-on and deal with it openly. It's time to take the bull by the horns and get this job done.
take the bull by the horns
to forcefully attack a difficult situation I took the bull by the horns and confronted him about his drinking.
Etymology: based on the idea that holding a bull (male cow) by its horns is a brave and direct action
take the bull by the horns
to do something difficult in a determined and confident way Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?
See shoot the breezetake the bull by the horns
Confront a problem head-on, as in We'll have to take the bull by the horns and tackle the Medicare question. This term most likely alludes to grasping a safely tethered bull, not one the matador is fighting in the ring. [c. 1800]