5 Bite the bullet 咬住子弹
A person who ‘bites the bullet’, without any sign of fear, acts with great courage in the face of adversity. The phrase recollects a dangerous army practice in the 1850s. Soldiers were then equipped with the British Enfield rifle. Prior to using it, they had to bite off the head of the cartridge to expose the explosive to the spark which would ignite it. The procedure was fraught with danger, particularly so in the heat of battle. It needed firmness and courage, as even the slightest deviation or hesitation would endanger the soldier.
一个“咬住子弹”的人,在逆境中表现得毫无畏惧和勇敢。这词组回顾了发生在1850年的一次军队的危险做法。士兵们全都装备上了英国Enfield步枪。在使用它之前,士兵们不得不咬掉枪弹头,使爆炸性物质暴露在火花下,使其点燃。这个过程充满着危险,特别是在战争的气氛中。这需要沉着和勇气,因为即使是轻微的偏差或犹豫都会危及士兵的生命。