grasp the nettle

From the short-term skin irritation caused by the stinging nettle.

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grasp the nettle (third-person singular simple present grasps the nettle, present participle grasping the nettle, simple past and past participle grasped the nettle)

1. (idiomatic) To act boldly, especially when there are short-term adverse consequences.
   • 1886 February 22, “London's Recent Rioting”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 Aug. 2010, page 5:

     Hence it was that a few dozen policemen, resolutely grasping the nettle, had no difficulty in handling it.

   • 1951 April 30, “From Today's Times”, in Ottawa Citizen, Canada, retrieved 18 Aug. 2010, page 2:

     President Truman, when at last he grasped the nettle and dismissed MacArthur, knew well enough the outcry that would follow.

   • 1993 September, “Seeking an identity”, in Guildford Gazette, number 3, page 8:

     For a number of years a group of brethren of the Craig Yr Hesg Lodge, meeting in Pontypridd, had discussed the possibility of forming a new Lodge. This year they decided to grasp the nettle.

   • 2007 May 24, “Brown's Britain: taking the nuclear option”, in telegraph.co.uk, retrieved 18 Aug. 2010:

     That Tony Blair should wait until the dying days of his premiership before grasping the nettle of nuclear expansion has proved dangerously neglectful.

   • 2020 May 6, Stefanie Foster, “Comment: One chance for a new order”, in Rail, page 3:

     We must be bold. We must grasp the nettle and make the most of this opportunity.

   • 2025 October 20, Caroline Davies, “Dealing with ‘Andrew problem’ could help ease William’s accession to the throne”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     However, his lease would not be affected by the removal of his dukedom and his honours. Perhaps, if his uncle is still in residence by the time William ascends the throne, the future king will grasp this nettle too.

• nettlesome