The Quiznos chain of sandwich shops introduced a “bullet” sandwich in July 2009. A “bullet” is smaller than a Quiznos “torpedo” sandwich.
An editorial cartoon in 1974 referred to a “bullet sandwich” as a small sandwich, with a consumer “biting the bullet” (i.e., accepting a difficult choice). Various restaurants had offered versions of “bullet sandwiches,” but the “bullet” name was rare before the Quiznos use in 2009. A “bullet sandwich”—like a “knuckle sandwich” in a fistfight—has also meant a hail of bullets.
Wikipedia: Bite the bullet
To “bite the bullet” is to accept the consequences of a hard choice. It is derived historically from the practice of having a patient clench a bullet in his or her teeth as a way to cope with the extreme pain of a surgical procedure without anesthetic.
In philosophy, a major goal is to always sustain a consistent set of beliefs using sound reasoning. Often this will involve accepting a belief that is a disturbing truth. It may be disturbing because it is counterintuitive or has other disturbing consequences. Given a philosopher’s previously held beliefs he or she may have to bite the bullet by accepting a particular claim offered as an extreme case or counterexample.
1 November 1974, Muscatine (IA) Daily Journal, pg. 4, col. 3 editorial cartoon (by Bill Sanders, Milwaukee Journal; see Google Books):
“How’s that bullet sandwich kid?”
(“Sugar profts” and “Oil profits” are large sandwiches, eaten by two large people. A “Consumer” eats a small sandwich and “bites the bullet”—ed.)
Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: “Dimitri”
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 19:37:10 GMT
Local: Thurs, Mar 10 2005 2:37 pm
Subject: Re: Ground Beef HMMM
There was a bar/restaurant that had a bullet sandwich it consisted of:
A square fresh ground beef patty (the place was a very good steak house)
White toast
layer of Ortega Chilies
Cheddar cheese
Grilled onions.
Google Groups: alt.politics
Newsgroups: alt.politics
From: “Logician”
Date: 30 Jan 2007 20:21:43 -0800
Local: Tues, Jan 30 2007 11:21 pm
Subject: Americans tuck into BULLET Sandwiches
They just keep eating bullet sandwiches.
Public Relations
QUIZNOS RIVALS FAST FOOD WITH LAUNCH OF NEW $3 TOASTY BULLET SANDWICH
Survey reveals consumers want value for lunch – even if it means becoming a fridge thief
Release date: July 17, 2009
July 13, 2009, Denver, CO – Exactly how far will consumers go for a free lunch? Quite far, actually: According to an Opinion Research Corporation survey conducted for Quiznos, more than three-quarters of Americans are willing to make sacrifices for a freebie. Some are even willing to commit “refrigerator theft,” with one in every seven Americans admitting to having taken a coworker’s lunch out of the refrigerator.
More than half of respondents would attend an in-law’s retirement party or a business meeting, while nearly one in five said they would go on a blind date, if it meant a gratis meal. There is, however, a limit to what people will do for a lunch treat – a mere 7 percent would be willing to sit through a time-share sales pitch.
Quiznos, pioneer of the toasted sandwich and one of the nation’s premier restaurant chains for sandwiches, salads and soups, is helping Americans fire a shot at pricey lunches with the launch of the new Toasty Bullet® sub. Priced at just $3, the Toasty Bullet sub is a real “steal,” bolstering Quiznos Everyday Value Menu of delicious offerings that are available for $5 or less, including select large subs, Toasty Torpedoes and Sammies.
(...)
Like its Toasty Torpedo sibling, the Toasty Bullet sub is inspired by the famous Italian and French baguette sandwiches served in Europe.