ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swallow a bitter pill

idiom
Meaning

To accept or endure an unpleasant situation.


Examples
SIMPLE

Losing the game was a bitter pill to swallow.

CONTEXTUAL

After working so hard on the project, it was a bitter pill to swallow when the manager canceled it.

COMPLEX

The veteran politician had to swallow a bitter pill when the public rejected the very policy he had championed for decades.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  2. 02

    hard to swallow

    Difficult to accept; hard to acquiesce to.

  3. 03

    horse pill

    A medicinal pill which is very large in size and is therefore difficult for a person to swallow.

  4. 04

    pill in the pocket

    A medication, usually prescribed by a physician, which the patient is to carry with them, and which is to be used only under certain conditions.

  5. 05

    pill mill

    A clandestine operation where a medical worker illicitly offers prescription medication to patients in exchange for bribes.

  6. 06

    sugarcoat the pill

    To make an unpleasant event less displeasing.

  7. 07

    swallow one's pride

    To set aside one's feelings of pride and adopt a more humble or appropriate stance.

  8. 08

    swallow the dictionary

    To speak using long or obscure words.

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