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

But adjusting to reality was a bitter pill for Andy to swallow.

From BBC

Defeat was another bitter pill for Zverev, who is still searching for a first Slam crown aged 28 after being a three-time finalist, including last year in Australia when Jannik Sinner beat him.

From Barron's

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