Apedia

Horns Bull Action March Office Explain Happened Act

Idiom Take the Bull by the Horns
Example Take the bull by the horns. March into the office and explain what happened.
Meaning to act bravely in a troublesome situation; to face up to a difficult challenge by taking decisive action
Origin For centuries daring bullfighters called matadors have been seizing bulls by the horns to wrestle them to the ground. It happens on ranches and in rodeos, too. By 1800 this brave, but risky, action had been expanded symbolically to other areas of life. The "bull" stood for any kind of trouble or challenge.

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