bite
Use teeth to cut or grip
To use your teeth to cut or hold something.
to bite [something/someone]
- The dog bit the mail carrier on the leg.
- She bit into the fresh bread.
- Be careful—this fish might bite if you touch it.
- He bit the pencil nervously during the exam.
- I bite the apple.
- The dog bites my hand.
- She bites a big sandwich.
- He bites his lip.
Act of cutting with teeth
The action of using your teeth to cut or hold something.
- He took a big bite of the burger.
- The child has a bite mark on his arm.
- One bite from this insect can cause a rash.
- I take a bite of bread.
- The dog gives me a bite.
- She takes one bite of cake.
Fish or animal taking bait
When a fish tries to eat food on a hook.
to bite [the bait/hook]
- The fish aren't biting today.
- A big salmon bit my hook.
- If the crabs don't bite, we'll try again later.
- The fish bites my hook.
- No fish bite today.
- A big fish bites the bait.
Small amount of food/snack
A small meal or snack.
- Let's grab a bite before the movie starts.
- I had a quick bite during my lunch break.
- We stopped for a bite at the café.
- I want a bite before work.
- We get a bite at the café.
- She has a quick bite after school.
Pain caused by cold or sharpness
When cold weather or wind hurts your skin.
- The icy wind bit at our faces.
- Frostbite occurs when the cold really bites.
- The rope bit into his hands as he pulled.
- The cold bites my hands.
- Wind bites my face.
- The rope bites into my skin.
- Base: bite
- Plural: bite, bites
- Base: bite
- 3rd Person Singular: bites
- Present Participle: biting
- Past: bit
- Past Participle: bitten
- Irregular past: bit Verb
- Irregular past participle: bitten Verb
bite back
1Restrain words/retaliate after provocation
To stop yourself from saying something angry OR to respond angrily after someone attacks you with words or actions.
- She bit back her anger and stayed calm.
- After weeks of criticism, he finally bit back with some harsh words.
bite off more than you can chew
1Take on too much work/responsibility
To try to do more work than you can manage.
- He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to run two projects at once.
- He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to manage three projects at once.
- Starting that business alone was biting off more than she could chew.
- Don't bite off more than you can chew by volunteering for too many tasks.
bite the bullet
1Face difficulty bravely
To do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding.
- I hate going to the dentist, but I'll just have to bite the bullet.
- I hate going to the dentist, but I’ll have to bite the bullet and make an appointment.
- She decided to bite the bullet and tell her boss the truth.
- He finally bit the bullet and told his boss about the mistake.
- We just need to bite the bullet and cut our spending.
bite your tongue
1Stop yourself from speaking out
To stop yourself from saying something you want to say because it might cause trouble or hurt someone.
- I had to bite my tongue instead of telling him what I really thought.
- I had to bite my tongue when he started bragging.
- Bite your tongue! That's not something you should say in front of her.
- Bite your tongue before you say something you'll regret.
once bitten, twice shy
1Cautious after bad experience
After something bad happens, you are careful not to let it happen again.
- I won't lend him money again—once bitten, twice shy.
- I don’t lend money anymore—once bitten, twice shy.
- She avoids online shopping now; once bitten, twice shy.
- She avoided dating for years; once bitten, twice shy.
once bitten, twice shy
2Cautious after bad experience
After something bad happens once, you are more careful next time.
- I won't lend him money again—once bitten, twice shy.
- She was hurt in her last relationship and is now once bitten, twice shy.