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Definitions

take the bull by the horns

VERB
buckle down
Synonyms
WEAK
address apply oneself attend to bend concentrate on dedicate oneself to devote oneself to exert oneself get serious give give oneself over to keep close to keep one's mind on knuckle down launch into occupy oneself with pitch in plunge into put one's hand to the plow put one's nose to the grindstone set to swing into action throw turn
Antonyms
WEAK
be lazy ignore relax
VERB
cross the Rubicon
Synonyms
WEAK
bite the bullet choose one's fate jump in with both feet leap into the breach leave a crossroads make one's move pass the Rubicon prendre la balle au bond take for better or worse take the plunge
VERB
face
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allow challenge confront deal with encounter endure experience fight meet oppose risk run into suffer take
STRONG
abide accost affront bear beard brace brave brook contend countenance court cross dare defy eyeball resist stand stomach submit sustain swallow tolerate venture withstand
WEAK
be confronted by bit the bullet cope with fly in face of go up against grapple with make a stand square off take it take on tell off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist avoid disallow discontinue dodge help hold keep refuse reject support surrender yield
STRONG
disapprove evade give in give up halt hide ignore leave resist shun stop veto
WEAK
back retreat run withdraw
VERB
run the gauntlet
Synonyms
WEAK
be a target be a whipping boy come to grips with court disaster face criticism face one's punishment go in harm's way go through fire and water march up to the cannon's mouth meet head-on take one's life in one's hands take potshots

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"As a victim, going through nine months of the trial, with all that psychological pain, I needed to take the bull by the horns."

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2022

If your family has been slow to celebrate the debut of 2021, now may be the time to take the bull by the horns.

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2021

"To me, it's an opportunity for somebody to stand up, step up and take the bull by the horns," Matheny said about available options, including candidates down in the minor leagues.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2015

Samsa decided to take the bull by the horns.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 21, 2013

I resolved now to take the bull by the horns, and put the question to Majendwa point-blank.

From A Frontier Mystery by Mitford, Bertram

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.