where does the phrase bite the bullet originate from?

Answer 1

In Civil War surgeries, whiskey was the only anesthetic.
So when the 'doctors' had to operate, the lucky patient was given a lead bullet to bite down on - to redirect his attention from the limb being cut off.

Some times you just gotta bite the bullet. (OH CRAP!)

Answer 2

In the days of "The Wild West," particularly, away from professional medical help, there was little to be used for an anesthetic, for minor medical procedures. Therefore, when it was necessary to extricate an item (such as a bullet) from beneath the skin, or seal or wrap a wound, during the procedure,the patient was given a bullet to clamp his teeth on, in order to help endure the pain. The bullet, being made of lead, was a relatively soft material, and would not damage the teeth, as it was being clenched. Therefore, when there is a need to endure physical or mental anguish, or perform some unpleasant task, you are instructed to " Bite the bullet!" Meaning, ignore the discomfort, and suffer through it.

Answer 3

Not sure in which war (Civil War?) people began using it, but they used to have patients bite down on a bullet before anesthesia was available:

The phrase "biting the bullet," meaning (usually mental) preparation for an unpleasant task or experience, refers to a patient doing precisely that to brace him- or herself for a painful medical procedure (such as the removal of another bullet or amputation of a limb) before the advent of anesthesia. This was frequently done on or behind a battlefield, where bullets would be readily available.

Answer 4

I don't know, but I'll take a guess. In the days before anesthetic, if somebody needed emergency medical attention like getting stitches, or having a bullet removed from their body or something, they would bite on something to help them cope with the intense pain (probably not a bullet, but biting a bullet sounds cool).

Answer 5

I believe it was from Civil War times. The wounded soldier would bite a bullet during amputations.

Answer 6

the old frontier days when there wasnt pain meds to help. people were given a piece of wood or something, like a bullet to clamp into to defer pain to the mind.