swallowed a bitter pill
Accepted harsh reality
To swallow a bitter pill is to accept something unpleasant or humiliating, especially when you have no choice.
The metaphor compares accepting harsh reality to forcing down foul-tasting medicine: Losing to our rivals was a bitter pill to swallow.
Sometimes shortened to a bitter pill: The divorce was a bitter pill, but she moved on.
- hard truthUnpleasant accurate statement
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- tough loveBeneficial strictness from affection
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
accept defeat · acquiescence · eating crow · humility · concession · come to terms · reconciliation · maturity · inevitability · acknowledgment · reluctance · grin and bear it · insight · reflection · perseverance · self-awareness · disappointment · patience
swallowed a bitter pillreaped the rewards
swallowed a bitter pillhad one's cake and ate it too
Got incompatible benefits simultaneously
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