bull

[[t]b'ʊl[/t]]

bulls

1) N-COUNT A bull is a male animal of the cow family.

2) N-COUNT Some other male animals, including elephants and whales, are called bulls.

Suddenly a massive bull elephant with huge tusks charged us.

3) N-COUNT On the stock market, bulls are people who buy shares in expectation of a price rise, in order to make a profit by selling the shares again after a short time. Compare bear.

4) N-COUNT In the Roman Catholic church, a papal bull is an official statement on a particular subject that is issued by the Pope.

Syn:

decree

5) N-UNCOUNT If you say that something is bull or a load of bull, you mean that it is complete nonsense or absolutely untrue. [INFORMAL]

I think it's a load of bull...

The press couldn't deal with that so they made up all this bull.

Syn:

rubbish

6) → See also , pit bull terrier

7) PHRASE: usu like PHR (disapproval) If you say that someone rushes into a situation like a bull in a china shop, you are critical of them because they do not stop to think, and are insensitive to other people's feelings. [INFORMAL]

Still, it'll stop him rampaging all over the place like a bull in a china shop.

8) PHRASE: usu like PHR You say that someone is like a bull in a china shop when they are very clumsy.

9) PHRASE: V inflects If you take the bull by the horns, you do something that you feel you ought to do even though it is difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant.

Now is the time for the Chancellor to take the bull by the horns and announce a two per cent cut in interest rates.

10) like a red rag to a bull → see rag