take a bullet
Accept harm willingly
To take a bullet is to suffer harm or sacrifice oneself to protect another—literally intercepting a gunshot, or figuratively absorbing blame, punishment, or hardship on someone's behalf.
He'd take a bullet for his kids.
The phrase often appears as a measure of loyalty: Would you take a bullet for your boss?
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- shotQuick liquor serving
- line of firePath projectiles travel
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- shieldHandheld defensive armor
pain · secret service · selflessness · courage · injury · protect · devotion · danger · bravery · save · ultimate sacrifice · allegiance · safeguard · bodyguard · close protection · human shield · peril · sacrifice
- executionexecution, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber, electric chair
take a bulletlook out for number one
Favor your own interests
every man for himself · self-preservation · leave someone hanging · run for cover · abandon ship
take a bulletstab in the back
Treachery against an ally
betray · sell out · throw under the bus · turn on · hang out to dry
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, undertake, undertaken, mistake