bitter pill

American  

noun

1. a distressing experience or result that is hard to accept (often in the expressiona bitter pill to swallow ).

   Being passed over for promotion was a bitter pill to swallow.

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Example Sentences

Yet, this is a bitter pill to swallow for many, given Pakistan contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

From BBC

For Kyiv, such a concession would be a bitter pill to swallow.

From BBC

He described the the outcome as "a bitter pill to swallow", although was awarded just over £1,650 on the grounds that his relationship with the lender was unfair.

From BBC

But he described a faster transition process, that will see farms lose 40% of their subsidy if they choose not to join the SFS immediately, as "a particularly bitter pill".

From BBC

Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes said it was a "gamechanger" but critics say the restrictions do not go far enough and were "a bitter pill to swallow".

From BBC