swallowing a bitter pill
Accepting unpleasant truth
Swallowing a bitter pill means accepting something unpleasant or unwelcome because it's necessary.
The image is of medicine that tastes bad but must be taken: Admitting he was wrong was a bitter pill to swallow.
Often appears as a bitter pill to swallow or swallow the bitter pill.
The phrase emphasizes reluctant acceptance rather than willing agreement.
- hard truthUnpleasant accurate statement
- face the musicAccept deserved consequences
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- lesser evilMore acceptable harm
concession · eating crow · acceptance · coming to terms · perseverance · stoicism · tough love · fortitude · rationalization · patience · pragmatism · realism · maturity · composure · wisdom · growing pains · healing · resignation
swallowing a bitter pillhaving one's cake and eating it too
Wanting incompatible things simultaneously
hitting the jackpot · smooth sailing · a walk in the park · a blessing in disguise
swallow, swallowed, swallows, swallower, bitter, bitterly, bitterness, bitterest