bitter pill to swallow

Idioms  

1. An unpleasant fact, disappointment, or humiliation that is difficult to endure. For example, Failing the bar exam was a bitter pill to swallow, but he plans to try again next year. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

It was a bitter pill to swallow for a young man who had spoken to AFP before the game about wanting to be an "all-time great" and to emulate his illustrious Patriots predecessor Tom Brady.

From Barron's

It would be a bitter pill to swallow if you had to hire another heating engineer and pay a third time.

From MarketWatch

It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Americans, especially younger generations that never have lived through a period of high inflation before.

From MarketWatch

It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Americans, especially younger generations that never have lived through a period of high inflation before.

From MarketWatch

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

From BBC