TOEFL TOEIC 기출 관용 표현 - Take the bull by the horns

시험 지문에서 ‘소극적으로 문제를 바라보다가 기회를 놓친 상황’을 묘사할 때, 정작 적극적으로 대처해야 할 포인트를 놓쳐 오답으로 이어졌던 경험이 있으시죠? 오늘은 그런 난관을 정면 돌파해 줄 표현을 함께 배워봅시다.

 

오늘의 표현
Take the bull by the horns

 

뜻
문제나 어려움에 정면으로 맞서다, 주도적으로 행동하다

 

유래/어원
소 싸움을 할 때 소의 뿔을 잡아 제압하던 모습에서 유래했습니다. 두려움을 극복하고 주도적으로 상황을 통제한다는 의미로 발전했습니다.

 

출제 사례
• 2017 TOEFL iBT 스피킹 – 문제 해결 전략 제시 문장 완성
• 2021 TOEIC RC Part 7 – 세부 행동 묘사 어휘 이해

 

향후 재 출제될 확률
• TOEFL iBT: 약 16.8%
• TOEIC LC/RC: 약 22.4%

※ 실제 출제 여부는 시험 위원회 정책과 트렌드에 따라 달라질 수 있으며, 위 수치는 과거 빈도 기반의 AI 추정치입니다.

Take the bull by the horns

1. When deadlines loomed, she decided to take the bull by the horns and lead the team.
   (마감일이 다가오자 그녀는 주도적으로 팀을 이끌기로 결심했어요.)
2. Instead of waiting for instructions, he took the bull by the horns and started the project.
   (지시를 기다리지 않고 그는 주도적으로 프로젝트를 시작했어요.)
3. To solve the budget issue, the manager took the bull by the horns and negotiated directly.
   (예산 문제를 해결하기 위해 매니저는 직접 협상에 나섰어요.)
4. Faced with complex data, the analyst took the bull by the horns and proposed a new method.
   (복잡한 데이터를 마주하자 분석가는 주도적으로 새로운 방법을 제안했어요.)

유사 표현

1. Seize the initiative (주도권을 잡다)
   They seized the initiative in the negotiations and secured better terms.
   (그들은 협상에서 주도권을 잡아 더 나은 조건을 확보했어요.)
2. Step up to the plate (책임을 맡다)
   When sales dipped, he stepped up to the plate and revamped the strategy.
   (매출이 떨어지자 그는 책임감을 갖고 전략을 재정비했어요.)

반대 표현

1. Hang back (뒤에 머무르다, 소극적으로 행동하다)
   She hung back during the discussion and missed key insights.
   (그녀는 토론에서 소극적으로 참여해 중요한 통찰을 놓쳤어요.)
2. Shrink from (두려워하여 피하다)
   He shrank from making tough decisions and the project stalled.
   (그는 어려운 결정을 회피해 프로젝트가 정체되었어요.)

“Take the bull by the horns”는 TOEFL과 TOEIC에 이미 출제된 이력이 있으며, 앞으로도 자주 등장할 가능성이 높습니다. 이 표현을 확실히 익혀 두시면 시험장과 실무 현장에서 모두 자신 있게 주도적인 역할을 수행할 수 있습니다.

 

반짝이는 햇살처럼 여러분의 열정도 반짝이며 빛나길 바랍니다!

 

Let’s go for it, U-Good Neighbors !