bitten
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be bitten by the bug
To suddenly be excited by or very interested in something (which can be specified between "the" and "bug"). Molly's really enjoying rehearsing for the school play—it seems she's been bitten by the acting bug. If one of my kids would get bitten by the academic bug, I would be delighted—but no, they just want to skip school and get in trouble all the time. I was never bitten by the fame bug, thank goodness. That kind of attention really messes with people.
bite
1. verb To respond to an invitation or ad, often a dishonest or misleading one. I tried to trick my brother into cleaning my room, but he didn't bite. I can't believe you bought this ridiculous thing. Geez, I guess they knew that, if they put enough ads out there, some sucker would bite. Give it up—there's no offer you could make that would get me to bite on that.
2. verb To be bad or seem ominous. I'm surprised he was nice to you—he usually bites. If the boss hasn't had her coffee yet, look out, because she can bite. My one aunt is always very nice, but the other one tends to bite.
3. verb To steal or take something. Aw man, somebody bit my notes, so I couldn't study at lunch. Did someone bite my bike? I swear, I only left it outside for five minutes! My dumb sister is always biting my clothes. They vanish from my closet before I've even had a chance to wear them!
4. verb, slang To be annoying or disappointing. Oh, that TV show bites. This season has been so stupid that I just can't watch it. A: "The train's running an hour late? Man, that bites." B: "I know, I won't get home till after 9:00 now." Saturday detention bites. I can't believe I have to spend my whole day here.
5. noun A meal, especially one that is small or is quick to prepare or eat. A shortening of the phrase "a bite to eat." We don't have a lot of time, so let's just grab a quick bite before the movie starts. Let's pull off at the next rest stop to grab a bite. I'm OK, actually—I managed to get a bite at the airport before my flight took off.
bite (one's) head off
To respond to one in an extremely angry and forceful manner that is often sudden or unprovoked. What's wrong with the boss today? I just tried to ask him a question, and he totally bit my head off! Hey, no need to bite my head off, I'm just trying to help! Ugh, whenever she's mad at her boyfriend, she ends up biting my head off instead.
bite down
1. To bite very hard and purposefully (on something). I nearly lost a tooth biting down on that apple! I knew there was something wrong with the burger the moment I bit down. As soon as she bit down on her sandwich, her loose tooth came out!
2. To clench one's teeth very firmly. I keep trying to give the dog her pills, but she's biting down so hard that I can't get them into her mouth. The field surgeons didn't have any anesthetic, so the poor man had to just bite down while they operated. The doctor finally had to give Sally a syringe of liquid medicine because she would bite down every time he got close to her with the pills.
bite down on (something)
1. To bite very hard and purposefully on something. I nearly lost a tooth biting down on that apple! She bit down on the man's hand to get him to let go of her. As soon as she bit down on her sandwich, her loose tooth came out!
2. To repress or hold back something, especially an emotion. I bit down on the rude comments that were dancing at the tip of my tongue. She had to keep biting down on her anger as the CEO continued to discredit her work. I had to bite down on a snarky remark as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend.
bite in (something)
To repress or hold back something, especially an emotion. I bit in the rude comments that were dancing at the tip of my tongue. She had to keep biting in her fury as the CEO continued to discredit her work. I had to bite in a snarky remark as my sister gushed about her new boyfriend.
See also: bite
bite on (something or someone)
1. Literally, to use the teeth to hold or take something; to chew on something. We had to take the dog to the vet after he bit on that questionable-looking plant. The teething baby bit on her rattle. See, the cat's happy as can be—she's off in the corner biting on one of her crinkly little balls.
2. To be attracted to someone or something with an appealing, but ultimately false, promise. The fish are not biting on my lure today—do I need to use different bait? I can't believe those freshmen bit on the promise of going to a big party tonight. Once they get here, we're going to make them wash our gear instead! You really bought that ridiculous thing? Geez, I guess they knew that, if they put enough ads out there, some sucker would bite on them.
3. To imitate or copy another person in some way. My little sister is constantly biting on me because she likes how I dress—it's so annoying! Naturally, his success has ushered in many copycats biting on his art style. I know he's your favorite author, but you can't bite on his entire plot like that.
bite the big one
slang
1. To die. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we could have bitten the big one! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already bitten the big one?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll bite the big one.
2. To fail or break down completely. This car served me well for nearly 20 years, but it finally bit the big one yesterday. The company could end up biting the big one if their new product turns out to be a flop. I was going to make a smoothie, but I think the blender's bit the big one.
3. To be remarkably bad, unpleasant, disappointing, or upsetting. Well, that movie bit the big one. I wish I could get my money back! Yeah, I heard that class bites the big one. Saturday detention bites the big one. I can't believe I have to spend my whole day here.
bite the dust
slang
1. Of a person, to die. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we might have bitten the dust! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already bitten the dust?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll bite the dust.
2. Of a machine, to be near a complete breakdown or loss of functionality. Judging by all that noise coming from her car, I'm pretty sure it's about to bite the dust. I have to go buy a new blender because mine bit the dust today. The company could end up biting the dust if their new product turns out to be a flop.
3. To become unpopular or irrelevant. Sadly, it doesn't take long for the latest technological innovations to bite the dust. Don't even bother getting the latest model of smartphone—those things bite the dust in no time. I thought record players had bitten the dust, but my teen daughters just love mine.
bite the hand that feeds (you)
To scorn or poorly treat those on whom you depend or derive benefit. You might not agree with your parents' rules, but be careful about biting the hand that feeds you, because you owe everything you have to them. In politics, if you bite the hand that feeds, benefactors can very quickly crush your political future. Yeah, I wouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. The women in the admin office may be chatty, but they are the key to getting anything done around here.
bitten by a barn mouse
obsolete Drunk or tipsy. (Barley, the primary ingredient for most beer, would have been kept in a barn, making it potential fodder for barn mice.) I had my suspicions that the farmhands may have all been bitten by a barn mouse, judging by their slurred speech and languid demeanor. Help him get home, will ya? I think he was bitten by a barn mouse down at the pub. I'm sure Sal was bitten by a barn mouse—he reeks of alcohol.
bitten by the same bug
Sharing a particular desire, interest, or impulse. I can't believe we applied to the same five schools! We must have been bitten by the same bug. Hey, what are you guys doing here? I guess we were bitten by the same bug tonight, huh? We moved to this neighborhood, and then, bitten by the same bug, my sister did too.
have the bug
To suddenly be excited by or very interested in something (which can be specified between "the" and "bug"). Molly's really enjoying rehearsing for the school play—it seems she has the acting bug. If one of my kids had the academic bug, I would be delighted—but no, they just want to skip school and get in trouble all the time. I never had the fame bug, thank goodness. That kind of attention really messes with people.
I could have bitten my tongue off
I immediately regretted saying something; I wish I could have stopped myself from saying something. I could have bitten my tongue off as soon as I made that tasteless joke. As soon as the ridiculous response was out of my mouth, I could've bitten my own tongue off. I mean, it was instantly clear that I'd offended her. I could have bitten my tongue off right then and there!
I wished I had bitten my tongue off
I immediately regretted saying something; I wish I had stopped myself from saying something. I wished I had bitten my tongue off as soon as I made that tasteless joke. As soon as the ridiculous response was out of my mouth, I wished I'd bitten my own tongue off. I mean, it was instantly clear that I'd offended her. I wished I had bitten my tongue off right then and there!
if it had been a snake, it would have bitten you
A phrase said humorously when one is looking for something that is right in front of them. Come on, your watch is right here, Liz! If it had been a snake, it would've bitten you! A: "Your red pen? You mean, that one on your desk?" B: "Oops." A: "If it had been a snake, it would have bitten you!" Your missing sneaker is over there by the door. Geez, if it had been a snake, it would have bitten you!
if it was a snake, it would've bitten you
A phrase said humorously when one is looking for something that is right in front of them. Come on, your watch is right here, Liz! If it was a snake, it would've bitten you! A: "Your red pen? You mean, that one on your desk?" B: "Oops." A: "If it was a snake, it would've bitten you!" Your missing sneaker is over there by the door. Geez, if it was a snake, it would've bitten you.
if it were a snake, it would have bitten you
A phrase said humorously when one is looking for something that is right in front of them. Come on, your watch is right here, Liz! If it were a snake, it would've bitten you! A: "Your red pen? You mean, that one on your desk?" B: "Oops." A: if it were a snake, it would have bitten you!" Your missing sneaker is over there by the door. Geez, if it were a snake, it would have bitten you.
once bitten, twice shy
Once one is hurt by someone or something, one will be extra cautious to avoid that person or thing. I've learned my lesson from dating actors—once bitten, twice shy. The company's brief but disastrous attempt was enough for them to vow never to venture into the mobile phone market again. Once bitten, twice shy.
snakebitten
informal Experiencing a period of misfortune or bad luck. Often used in the context of sports. I bet they would have gone further in the playoffs if their star player hadn't been so snakebitten. Three assists and zero goals in five games just isn't good enough. The snakebitten actor hadn't booked a gig in his last 30 auditions.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bite the big one
Sl. to die. I was so tired that I thought I was going to bite the big one. I hope I am old and gray when I bite the big one.
bite the dust
1. Sl. to die. A shot rang out, and another cowboy bit the dust. The soldier was too young to bite the dust.
2. Sl. to break; to fail; to give out. My old car finally bit the dust. This pen is out of ink and has bitten the dust.
*bite (to eat)
to get something to eat; to get food that can be eaten quickly. (*Typically: get ~; grab ~; have~.) I need a few minutes to grab a bite to eat. Bob often tries to get a bite between meetings.
bitten by the same bug
Fig. having the same need, desire, or obsession. Bob and I were both bitten by the same bug and ended up getting new cars at the same time.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Prov. When something or someone has hurt you once, you tend to avoid that thing or person. Jill: Let's go ride the roller coaster. Jane: No, thanks. I got really sick on one of those once—once bitten, twice shy. I once sent in money for something I saw advertised in the back of a magazine, but the merchandise was of such poor quality I was sorry I'd bought it. I'll never buy anything that way again; once bitten, twice shy.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
bark is worse than one's bite, one's
A person seems more hostile or aggressive than is the case, as in Dad sounds very grouchy in the morning, but his bark's worse than his bite. This phrase was a proverb by the mid-1600s.
bite the dust
Suffer defeat or death, as in The 1990 election saw both of our senators bite the dust. Although this expression was popularized by American Western films of the 1930s, in which either cowboys or Indians were thrown from their horses to the dusty ground, it originated much earlier. Tobias Smollett had it in Gil Blas (1750): "We made two of them bite the dust."
once bitten, twice shy
Once hurt, one is doubly cautious in the future, as in He was two days late last time, so she's not hiring him again-once bitten, twice shy. This seemingly old observation, presumably alluding to an animal biting someone, was first recorded in 1894.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
once bitten, twice shy
oronce bitten
You say once bitten, twice shy to mean that a bad experience makes you not want to become involved in a similar situation in the future. I'm certainly not looking for a new boyfriend. Once bitten, twice shy. Tokyo's punters, once bitten, twice shy, will not come rushing back for more.
be bitten by the bug
COMMON If you are bitten by the gardening bug, for example, or are bitten by the acting bug, you become very enthusiastic about gardening or acting, and you start doing it a lot. I've definitely been bitten by the gardening bug, and now I love weeding and digging. Bitten by the travel bug, he set off for a working holiday in Australia. She provides a guide to Britain's antiques markets and a very useful reference list for those seriously bitten by the bug.
bite the dust
COMMON
1. If something bites the dust, it fails or stops existing. With the news that milk chocolate can help cut cholesterol, yet another healthy eating fad bites the dust. Quite a few restaurants have bitten the dust recently.
2. If someone bites the dust, they die. A Wild West showman nearly bit the dust when he blew himself up making blank bullets in his garden shed. Note: This expression is used to refer to someone's death in a humorous way. Note: In stories about the Wild West, cowboys were said to `bite the dust' when they were shot and fell off their horses.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
bite the big one
die. North American informal 1996 Tom Clancy Executive Orders The Premier of Turkmenistan bit the big one, supposedly an automobile accident.
bite the dust
1 be killed. 2 fail. informalI could have bitten my tongue off
used to convey that you profoundly and immediately regret having said something.have (or be bitten by) the bug
develop a sudden strong enthusiasm for something.once bitten, twice shy
a bad experience makes you wary of the same thing happening again.This expression dates from the late 19th century. A variant common in the USA is once burned, twice shy .
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
bite the ˈbig one
(American English, slang)1 be very bad or fail: This place really bites the big one!
2 die: It’s a surprise to see him bite the big one at the end of the movie.
bite the ˈdust
(informal)1 fail, or be defeated or destroyed: Thousands of small businesses bite the dust every year.
2 (humorous) die
be bitten by/have the ˈbug
(informal) have a sudden strong interest in or enthusiasm for something: My mum was never really interested in going abroad until she went to America last year. Now she’s been bitten by the travel bug and hates staying at home!ˌonce ˈbitten, ˌtwice ˈshy
(saying) if something has gone wrong once, you are very careful not to let something similar happen again: ‘Will she marry again, do you think?’ ‘I doubt it — once bitten, twice shy.’Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
bite
1. in. to accept a deception; to fall for something; to respond to a come-on. We put up a sign advertising free pop, but nobody bit.
2. in. [for someone or something] to be bad or threatening. My dad bites, but don’t worry, he’s in a good mood.
3. in. to be irritating. (More severe than to suck, as in It sucks.) This party bites. Sko.
4. tv. to copy something without permission; to steal something. Sue bit a copy of my term paper, and I almost got in trouble.
bite the big one
tv. to die. I was so tired that I thought I was going to bite the big one.
bite the dust
1. tv. to die. A shot rang out, and another cowboy bit the dust.
2. tv. to break; to fail; to give out. My car finally bit the dust.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
bite the dust
Slang1. To fall dead, especially in combat.
2. To be defeated.
3. To come to an end.
bite
/hold (one's) tongue To be or keep silent.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
once bitten, twice shy
One injury will make one extra cautious in the future. This proverbial saying appears to date from the mid-nineteenth century, although the idea is centuries older. William Scarborough’s version of Chinese Proverbs (1875) stated, “Once bitten by a snake in passing by, a second time he will of grass be shy.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer