bitter pill
Hard to swallow
A bitter pill is something unpleasant that must be accepted or endured.
The image is of medicine that tastes bad but must be swallowed for one's health.
Usually appears as a bitter pill to swallow: Losing the election was a bitter pill for someone who'd never lost.
The phrase acknowledges difficulty while implying necessity or inevitability.
Jolt into awareness
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- harsh realityUncomfortable actual circumstances
- rude awakeningStartling unpleasant realization
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
letdown · shattered illusions · broken dreams · cold comfort · disenchantment · loss of innocence · reality check · comeuppance
Delay from uncertainty
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- unwillingnessDisinclination to act
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- distasteMild aversion or dislike
dread · foot-dragging · forced choice · no alternative · last resort · necessary evil · unpalatable · grudging
Send down the throat
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- coming to termsAccepting a difficult truth
reconciliation · hard truth · concession · inevitable · making peace · sobering · humbling · reckoning
Flat portable computing device
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
dosage · remedy · treatment · pharmacy · swallow · coated · chalky · hard to swallow
wake-up call
Jolt into awareness
- eye-openerStartling piece of information
- harsh realityUncomfortable actual circumstances
- rude awakeningStartling unpleasant realization
disappointment · letdown · shattered illusions · broken dreams · cold comfort · disenchantment · loss of innocence · reality check · comeuppance
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- unwillingnessDisinclination to act
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
distaste · dread · foot-dragging · forced choice · no alternative · last resort · necessary evil · unpalatable · grudging · resentment
swallow
Send down the throat
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
coming to terms · reconciliation · hard truth · concession · inevitable · making peace · sobering · humbling · reckoning · capitulation
tablet
Flat portable computing device
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
medication · dosage · remedy · treatment · pharmacy · swallow · coated · chalky · hard to swallow · medicinal
- food idiomspiece of cake, bread winner, low-hanging fruit, cool as a cucumber, bad egg
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- life lessonslesson learned, moral, lessons learned, life lessons, parable
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- trade-offstrade-off, pros and cons, double-edged sword, mixed blessing, give and take
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
bitter pillcomfort
Ease or soothing relief
blessing · pleasant surprise · gift · windfall · stroke of luck
bitter pillgood news
Favorable information received
glad tidings · victory · triumph · dream come true · answered prayer
bitter pilleasy win
Unchallenging victory
no-brainer · relief · foregone conclusion · smooth sailing · walk in the park
bitter, pill, pillow, bitterness, pills, pillowcase, bitterly, embitter, bitters