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Region: General | Usage example: Losing the bid was a bitter pill to swallow.

A bitter pill to swallow

Meaning

An unpleasant fact or situation to accept.

Usage

Used when describing hard truths.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Medicine that tastes bad but heals.

Used since the 16th century in health and moral contexts.

Related Idioms

Bitter end

Fight or persist until the very end.

Bite the bullet

Accept an unpleasant task or situation that cannot be avoided.

Give a bad time

Make someone's situation unpleasant or difficult.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.