1bite 
/ˈbaɪt/ verb
bites; bit /ˈbaɪt/ verb /ˈbɪt/; bit·ten /ˈbɪtn̩/; bit·ing /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/ 1 of a person or animal a : to press down on or cut into (someone or something) with the teeth [+ obj] ▪ He bit the apple. ▪ The hamster bit the child. ▪ She bit the cookie in half. ▪ Some people bite their nails when they feel nervous. — often + off ▪ The child bit off a corner of the cracker. [no obj] ▪ A wild animal may bite if it is frightened. — often + down, into, or through ▪ He accidentally bit down on his tongue. ▪ She had just bitten into her sandwich when the phone rang. ▪ The dog bit through its leash and ran off. ▪ Go talk to him. He won't bite. [=you should not be afraid to go talk to him]
b of an insect or snake : to wound (someone) by pushing a stinger, fang, etc., into the skin [+ obj] ▪ The patient had been bitten by a poisonous snake. ▪ A mosquito bit me. [no obj] ▪ The mosquitoes are biting tonight. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was bitten by the travel bug. [=he became very interested in or excited about traveling] 2 [no obj] : to grab and hold something without slipping — usually + into ▪ The anchor bit into the ocean floor. 3 [no obj] a of a fish : to take a fishhook and bait into the mouth and usually to get caught
▪ Are the fish biting today?
b somewhat informal : to respond to or accept something that is being offered ◊Someone gets you to bite by offering something you want so that you will do something desired.
▪ We offered them a great deal, but they wouldn't bite. [=they wouldn't accept the deal] ▪ “I just heard the juiciest piece of gossip!” “OK, I'll bite. [=I'll ask the question you want me to ask] What is it?” 4 [no obj] chiefly Brit : to have a bad effect
▪ With the recession starting to bite, many government-funded programs have had to be eliminated. 5 [no obj] US slang, impolite : to be extremely bad
▪ This movie really bites. [=sucks, stinks] ▪ “They canceled the concert.” “Man, that bites!” [=(politely) that's awful]
b of an insect or snake : to wound (someone) by pushing a stinger, fang, etc., into the skin [+ obj] ▪ The patient had been bitten by a poisonous snake. ▪ A mosquito bit me. [no obj] ▪ The mosquitoes are biting tonight. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He was bitten by the travel bug. [=he became very interested in or excited about traveling]
▪ Are the fish biting today?
b somewhat informal : to respond to or accept something that is being offered ◊Someone gets you to bite by offering something you want so that you will do something desired.
▪ We offered them a great deal, but they wouldn't bite. [=they wouldn't accept the deal] ▪ “I just heard the juiciest piece of gossip!” “OK, I'll bite. [=I'll ask the question you want me to ask] What is it?”
▪ With the recession starting to bite, many government-funded programs have had to be eliminated.
▪ This movie really bites. [=sucks, stinks] ▪ “They canceled the concert.” “Man, that bites!” [=(politely) that's awful]
bite back
[phrasal verb] informal 1 : to attack or criticize someone who has attacked or criticized you
▪ Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate bit back [=hit back, fought back] with an aggressive ad campaign. — often + at ▪ She bit back at her rival with an aggressive ad campaign. 2 bite back (something) or bite (something) back : to stop yourself from saying (something)
▪ I attempted to smile sweetly while biting back angry comments.
▪ Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate bit back [=hit back, fought back] with an aggressive ad campaign. — often + at ▪ She bit back at her rival with an aggressive ad campaign.
▪ I attempted to smile sweetly while biting back angry comments.
bite off more than you can chew
informal : to try to do too much : to take on more responsibility than you can handle
▪ I really bit off more than I could chew when I took on this project.
▪ I really bit off more than I could chew when I took on this project.
bite someone's head off
informal : to yell at someone or to be very critical of someone especially very suddenly and without a good reason
▪ I asked him one simple question and he bit my head off.
▪ I asked him one simple question and he bit my head off.
bite the bullet
informal : to do something unpleasant or painful because it is necessary even though you would like to avoid it
▪ We need to bite the bullet and make some budget cuts.
▪ We need to bite the bullet and make some budget cuts.
bite the dust
informal : to die or stop functioning
▪ My old car finally bit the dust and I had to buy a new one.
▪ My old car finally bit the dust and I had to buy a new one.
bite the hand that feeds you
informal : to harm someone who has helped or supported you
▪ He was reluctant to criticize his mentor for fear of biting the hand that fed him.
▪ He was reluctant to criticize his mentor for fear of biting the hand that fed him.
bite your tongue also bite your lip
informal : to not speak : to stop yourself from saying something that you are tempted to say
▪ I thought she was acting foolishly, but I bit my tongue [=held my tongue] and didn't say anything. — often used as a command ▪ “I hope he gets hurt.” “Bite your tongue! [=don't say that] That's a terrible thing to say!”
▪ I thought she was acting foolishly, but I bit my tongue [=held my tongue] and didn't say anything. — often used as a command ▪ “I hope he gets hurt.” “Bite your tongue! [=don't say that] That's a terrible thing to say!”
come back to bite you
◊If something that you do comes back to bite you, it causes problems for you at a later time.
▪ Their decision not to invest more money in new equipment may come back to bite them eventually.
▪ Their decision not to invest more money in new equipment may come back to bite them eventually.
hair of the dog that bit you — see hair
once bitten, twice shy
◊The expression once bitten, twice shy means that a person who has failed or been hurt when trying to do something is careful or fearful about doing it again.
— bit·er noun, plural bit·ers [count]
