1. Home
2. Idioms
3. 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.

See also: bull, horn, take

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

See also: bull, horn, take

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 breeze

See also: bull, horn, take

take 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]

See also: bull, horn, take