# hard to swallow

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hard-to-swallow
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Difficult to accept; hard to acquiesce to.

## Examples

- That excuse is hard to swallow.
- The news that the company was closing down was hard to swallow for all the employees.
- While the evidence was clear, the truth about his betrayal remained hard to swallow for those who had trusted him for years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.