Courage & Fear — Idioms
Bullets to bite and plunges to take — bravery and its shadows. · 10 idioms · Level B2
bite the bullet
Meaning: to face something unpleasant with courage
neutral difficult tasks, decisions
Example: I hate the dentist, but I'll bite the bullet and book the appointment.
A Time to bite the bullet and call him.
B Deep breath. Dialing now.
⚠️ Common mistake: Bite THE bullet — from soldiers biting bullets during surgery. Courage through pain.
take the plunge
Meaning: to finally do something brave after hesitating
neutral big decisions, businesses
Example: After years of dreaming, she took the plunge and opened her bakery.
A We took the plunge and bought the house.
B Congratulations! When's the move?
⚠️ Common mistake: Take THE plunge — a dive into cold water: commitment after hesitation.
face your fears
Meaning: to confront what frightens you instead of avoiding it
neutral encouragement, therapy, growth
Example: He faced his fears and flew alone for the first time.
A Face your fears — try one small flight.
B Denver first. Short hop.
⚠️ Common mistake: Face YOUR fears (possessive follows). Direct and modern — therapy English loves it.
scared stiff
Meaning: extremely frightened, unable to move
informal stories, fears
Example: She was scared stiff during the storm.
A I was scared stiff on that ride.
B Your face in the photo says it all.
⚠️ Common mistake: Scared STIFF — stiff like a board: fear freezes the body.
chicken out
Meaning: to decide not to do something because of fear
informal teasing, confessions
Example: He chickened out of the speech at the last minute.
A Don't chicken out now.
B The water is freezing! — Jump anyway.
⚠️ Common mistake: Chicken out OF something: chickened out of the dive. Playful — careful with proud adults.
cold feet
Meaning: sudden nervousness before an important event, making you doubt it
informal weddings, big commitments
Example: He got cold feet the night before the wedding.
A Cold feet before the move?
B A little. The house is right, though.
⚠️ Common mistake: Get cold feet — feet go cold with doubt. BEFORE weddings, moves, signatures — not during cold weather!
lose your nerve
Meaning: to lose courage at the critical moment
neutral challenges, performances
Example: The climber lost his nerve near the top.
A He lost his nerve at the last jump.
B Training will rebuild it.
⚠️ Common mistake: Lose your NERVE (singular): courage lives in one nerve here. Possessive follows the person.
step out of your comfort zone
Meaning: to do something unfamiliar that helps you grow
neutral self-improvement, coaching
Example: Speaking in public pushed her out of her comfort zone.
A Step out of your comfort zone this month.
B Karaoke night. Terrifying. Done.
⚠️ Common mistake: Comfort ZONE — the zone is your safe habits. Growth waits outside it, coaches promise.
scared to death
Meaning: extremely frightened
informal stories, movies, reactions
Example: That horror movie scared me to death.
A The thunder scared me to death.
B Same. The dog hid under the bed.
⚠️ Common mistake: Scared to death is exaggeration for effect — also 'scared me half to death' in the South.
shake like a leaf
Meaning: to tremble with fear or cold
informal fear descriptions, stories
Example: Before the results, he was shaking like a leaf.
A You were shaking like a leaf up there.
B Biggest stage of my life.
⚠️ Common mistake: Shake LIKE a leaf — a simile: leaves tremble in wind; so do nervous humans.
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