Instead of taking the bull by horns, one could choose to avoid confrontation altogether. Other antonyms for this phrase could include being passive, hesitant or indecisive. Rather than facing a problem head-on, an individual could choose to approach it with timidity or even fear. Alternatively, one could opt to delegate responsibility to someone else, shirk their duties or simply ignore the issue altogether. Ultimately, the opposite of taking the bull by horns involves a lack of courage, assertiveness and willingness to take risks in order to achieve one's goals.