A Hard Pill to Swallow.
English
idiom
Something unpleasant that must be accepted.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Something unpleasant that must be accepted.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
An unpleasant fact or outcome that is difficult to accept.
When something is a hard pill to swallow, it is a truth or result that is painful or disappointing, even if it cannot be changed.
It is used when someone must accept bad news, criticism, or an unfair situation.
"Bite the Bullet"
—
To accept a difficult situation and endure it with determination
"Tough Love"
—
Giving harsh but caring advice to help someone improve
"A Hard Pill to Swallow"
—
A painful truth or outcome that is very difficult to accept
The budget has been cut and we'll have to scale back the project.
That's a hard pill to swallow, but I understand — let's figure out what we can still deliver.
He said the reason we didn't get the account was our pricing.
That's a hard pill to swallow, but at least now we know what to fix.
Losing the scholarship by one point was a hard pill to swallow — I still think about it.
That's heartbreaking. But you kept going, and that counts for a lot.
