bull

1
[ boo l ]
/ bʊl /

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Idioms for bull

    bull in a china shop,
    1. an awkward or clumsy person.
    2. an inconsiderate or tactless person.
    3. a troublemaker; dangerous person.
    take the bull by the horns, to attack a difficult or risky problem fearlessly.

Origin of bull

1
1150–1200; Middle English bule, Old English bula; akin to Old Norse boli; see bullock

OTHER WORDS FROM bull

bull-like, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for take the bull by the horns (1 of 5)

Bull 1
/ (bʊl) /

noun

the Bull the constellation Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac

British Dictionary definitions for take the bull by the horns (2 of 5)

Bull 2
/ (bʊl) /

noun

John . 1563–1628, English composer and organist
See John Bull

British Dictionary definitions for take the bull by the horns (3 of 5)

bull 1
/ (bʊl) /

noun

adjective

male; masculine a bull elephant
large; strong

verb

Word Origin for bull

Old English bula, from Old Norse boli; related to Middle Low German bulle, Middle Dutch bolle

British Dictionary definitions for take the bull by the horns (4 of 5)

bull 2
/ (bʊl) /

noun

a ludicrously self-contradictory or inconsistent statement Also called: Irish bull

Word Origin for bull

C17: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for take the bull by the horns (5 of 5)

bull 3
/ (bʊl) /

noun

a formal document issued by the pope, written in antiquated characters and often sealed with a leaden bulla

Word Origin for bull

C13: from Medieval Latin bulla seal attached to a bull, from Latin: round object

Cultural definitions for take the bull by the horns

take the bull by the horns

Take the initiative in confronting a difficult position: “You'll never decide what you want in life by just thinking about it; you must take the bull by the horns and try out a few possibilities.”

Idioms and Phrases with take the bull by the horns (1 of 2)

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]

Idioms and Phrases with take the bull by the horns (2 of 2)

bull