What Does "Take the Bull by the Horns" Mean?
"Take the bull by the horns" is an English idiom. It means "to face a difficult or challenging situation with courage, determination, and decisiveness."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "take the bull by the horns" used in a sentence:- Instead of avoiding the issue, she decided to take the bull by the horns and confront the problem head-on.
- Taking the bull by the horns often leads to effective problem-solving and personal growth.
- In leadership roles, individuals are expected to take the bull by the horns when addressing tough decisions.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Take the Bull by the Horns" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "take the bull by the horns" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?