take the bull by the horns

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take the bull by the horns (third-person singular simple present takes the bull by the horns, present participle taking the bull by the horns, simple past took the bull by the horns, past participle taken the bull by the horns)

1. (idiomatic) To deal with a matter in a direct manner, especially to confront a difficulty rather than avoid it.
   • 1828 May, Sir Walter Scott, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott:

     Wordsworth has a system which disposes him to take the bull by the horns and offend public taste.

   • 1912, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 4, in Hocken and Hunken:

     "Then why couldn' ye take the bull by the horns an' march in by the front door?"

   • 1920, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 4, in The Coming of Bill:

     e was ready to take the bull by the horns and pay for his meal himself.

   • 1950 December 4, “The Nation: Between Friends”, in Time:

     In Korea General MacArthur took the bull by the horns and threw seven divisions into an all-out drive to clear North Korea.

   • 2002 May 16, Selena Roberts, “Tennis: Healthy Morariu Expects to Return to Court”, in New York Times, retrieved 2 August 2011:

     "Should I tell her? Should I send someone else?" he said yesterday. "I took the bull by the horns. I gave her the diagnosis. It was the most difficult time of my life."

• beard the lion in his den
• carpe diem
• seize the day
• the world is your oyster
• bit between one's teeth