bull
adult male of cattle
An adult male cow or similar large farm animal, often very strong and sometimes dangerous.
- The bull lowered its head and charged at the red cloth.
- Farmers brought their best bull to the agricultural show.
- The matador stood still as the bull ran past him.
- A young bull had escaped from the field and was standing in the road.
- They use a special bull for breeding the herd.
- The bull is very big and strong.
- The bull ran quickly across the field.
- People watched the bull in the ring.
- The farmer keeps one bull and many cows.
investor expecting prices to rise
A person who thinks prices on the stock market will go up and buys or keeps shares because of this; also, a time when prices are going up.
a bull on [something]
- She’s a long-term bull on renewable energy companies.
- The bulls took control of the market after the strong jobs report.
- Even the most aggressive bulls worry about a possible correction.
- Many young investors turned into bulls during the tech boom.
- Some analysts remain bulls on the dollar despite recent volatility.
- He is a bull on bank stocks.
- Many bulls think prices will rise next year.
- The bulls are happy because the market is going up.
- Some people are bulls and some people are bears.
nonsense; lies or rubbish
Informal: things that someone says that are not true, not serious, or stupid; a softer form of the word *bullshit*.
(that’s) bull
- That excuse is total bull and you know it.
- The ad is full of marketing bull and empty promises.
- He tried to feed us some bull about losing the receipts.
- I’m tired of all this political bull on TV.
- Don’t give me that bull about having no time.
- That story is bull. I don’t believe it.
- The ad is bull. The product is not that good.
- Stop talking bull and tell me the truth.
- He says he was late because of traffic, but I think it is bull.
large, strong, forceful man
Informal: a man who is very strong or who moves and acts in a hard, heavy way, like a bull.
a real bull
- He’s a bull of a man, but very gentle with his kids.
- The defender was a bull on the field, knocking players aside.
- Built like a bull, she easily lifted the heavy boxes.
- He came charging in like a bull, shouting at everyone.
- You need a bull like him to move that old piano.
- He is a bull of a man, very big and strong.
- The player was a bull on the field.
- My uncle is strong as a bull.
- He walked into the room like a bull and broke the chair.
formal papal document or decree
A very official paper from the Pope that gives an important order or decision in the Catholic Church.
a papal bull
- The pope issued a bull condemning the practice.
- A 16th‑century papal bull granted special rights to the university.
- The historians studied a bull from 1493 that divided new lands between Spain and Portugal.
- The reforms were confirmed in a bull published in Rome.
- Access to the original bull is restricted because of its age.
- The pope signed a bull about church law.
- We read a very old papal bull in class.
- This bull changed the rules of the church.
- The king waited for a bull from the pope.
the astrological sign Taurus
In astrology, the sign called Taurus, which has a bull as its symbol, or a person with this star sign.
the Bull (Taurus)
- In astrology, the Bull is associated with stability and persistence.
- She’s a Bull, born in early May.
- The constellation of the Bull has been known since ancient times.
- The Bull is said to value comfort and security.
- Many people read what the Bull’s horoscope says for the week.
- In the zodiac, Taurus is called the Bull.
- He is a Bull, because his birthday is in April.
- The Bull is a star sign in Western astrology.
- People say the Bull likes money and comfort.
slang for police or guard
Slang and somewhat old‑fashioned: a police officer or prison guard, usually a strong or hard one.
a bull came in
- The bulls raided the bar just after midnight.
- He spent years dodging railroad bulls while riding freight trains.
- The prisoners complained that the bulls were too violent.
- One of the bulls stood by the door while the others searched the cell.
- Old crime novels often use the word “bull” for the police.
- In this old movie, the gang calls the police the bulls.
- The bulls came into the bar and asked questions.
- He said the bulls at the prison were very hard men.
- In some books, “bull” is slang for a police officer.
push forward forcefully
To go forward by pushing hard through people or things, not being careful or gentle.
to bull [one’s] way through [something]
- He bulled his way through the crowd to get to the stage.
- She just bulled right into the meeting without knocking.
- The truck bulled through the snowdrifts blocking the road.
- They bulled ahead with the plan despite strong objections.
- He bulled past security before anyone could stop him.
- He bulled his way through the line of people.
- The man bulled into the room without a word.
- The car bulled through the deep snow.
- They bulled ahead with the project, even when others said no.
pressure or intimidate someone
Informal: to make someone do something by being very strong and forceful with them, not by asking politely.
to bull [someone] into [doing something]
- He tried to bull me into signing the contract on the spot.
- Don’t let them bull you into accepting a lower salary.
- She refused to be bulled into changing her story.
- The company can’t just bull its way into the market without local support.
- You can’t bull people into trusting you.
- He tried to bull her into taking the job.
- They will not bull me into saying yes.
- Don’t let anyone bull you into doing something you hate.
- You cannot bull your friends into agreeing with you.
- Base: bull
- Plural: bull, bulls
- Base: bull
- 3rd Person Singular: bulls
- Present Participle: bulling
- Past: bulled
bull market
1period of generally rising prices
A time in the financial market when prices of shares and other assets are going up and many investors feel confident.
- After years of slow growth, a new bull market in tech stocks began.
- Many small investors entered the market during the long bull market.
- Analysts are unsure how long the current bull market can last.
bull run
1strong, continued rise in prices
A period of time when prices in a financial market go up a lot and keep going up.
- The long bull run in housing prices has made homes very expensive.
- Investors worry that the bull run in cryptocurrencies may soon end.
- We’re in the middle of a powerful bull run in energy stocks.
bull session
1informal, free conversation or discussion
An informal, relaxed talk where people speak freely, often for a long time, about ideas, plans, or personal things.
- We stayed up late having a bull session about politics and music.
- College students love late‑night bull sessions in the dorm.
- The meeting turned into a friendly bull session after the main agenda was done.
bull’s-eye
1the exact center or perfect hit
The exact center of a target; also, a shot or action that hits exactly the right place or result.
- She hit the bull’s-eye with her first arrow.
- The marketing campaign was a bull’s-eye, reaching exactly the right customers.
- Your answer was a bull’s-eye—exactly what I was looking for.
like a bull in a china shop
1very clumsy or tactless in a delicate situation
To move or act in a way that is very clumsy or not careful in a situation where you need to be gentle or polite.
- He’s charming with friends but in meetings he’s like a bull in a china shop.
- She handled the sensitive negotiation like a bull in a china shop and upset everyone.
- Don’t go into that discussion like a bull in a china shop; be polite and calm.
shoot the bull
1talk idly or casually
To talk in a relaxed way about unimportant things, just for fun.
- We just sat on the porch and shot the bull all afternoon.
- They like to meet on Fridays to shoot the bull over a few beers.
- Instead of working, they spent an hour shooting the bull in the break room.
strong as a bull
1extremely physically strong
Very strong physically.
- Even in his seventies, my grandfather was strong as a bull.
- You’ll need someone strong as a bull to move that piano.
- The new fitness trainer is strong as a bull and very energetic.
cock and bull story
1Unbelievable made-up story
A silly story that is not true, often told to explain something.
- He came up with some cock and bull story about why he was late.
- He gave the police some cock and bull story about being kidnapped by aliens.
- That excuse is just a cock and bull story.
- That’s a cock and bull story if I ever heard one.
- The company’s excuse for the delay sounded like a cock and bull story.
take the bull by the horns
1face a problem bravely and directly
To deal with a difficult or scary problem in a direct and brave way, instead of waiting or hiding.
- It was time to take the bull by the horns and talk to his boss about the mistake.
- It's time to take the bull by the horns and talk to your boss about the issue.
- She finally took the bull by the horns and ended the unhealthy relationship.
- She took the bull by the horns and called the customer to apologize.
- The government must take the bull by the horns and reform the tax system.