a tough pill to swallow

a tough pill to swallow

Something, especially a fact or piece of news, that is unpleasant or difficult but which is unavoidable or must be accepted. It was a tough pill to swallow learning that my father's fortune had been squandered. Her recent breakup with Janet was a tough pill to swallow.
See also: pill, swallow, tough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a hard pill to swallow
  • bitter pill (to swallow)
  • bitter
  • a bitter pill
  • horse pill
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • swallow down
  • couldn't help it
  • gag on (something)
References in periodicals archive
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for some of the team's fans.
Donald Trump's head-scratch-inducing trip to Mexico to meet with the country's president, whom he's very excited to talk with, feels like a tough pill to swallow. (Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has invited Clinton as well.) And then there'll be the "highly anticipated" speech about immigration following his visit, a media spectacle you won't want to miss.
It really was a tough pill to swallow for Munsayac as the team's usually vocal leader fell silent inside the dugout.
He said: "The injury was a tough pill to swallow. It's hard to think that your World Cup dream is being snatched away but now I can hopefully add to the cause come Saturday."
That must have come as a tough pill to swallow, as UBS thought it would not be fined after pleading guilty and promising to behave.
"It was a tough pill to swallow last year but I've learnt a lot from that," he added.
"For us as players, and also the fans, because we were in fourth place for so long and looking so strong when in that position, then it is a tough pill to swallow."
Reduced foreign sugar sales will be a tough pill to swallow: During the harvest season ending in June, EU producers will have exported an estimated 7.2 million tons.
It's a good thing that the National Academy of Sciences has experience with medicine because having to publish statistics that refute its members' own errant beliefs is obviously proving to be a tough pill to swallow.
It's a tough pill to swallow, especially if your heart remains with that organization.
Nelson's attachment to Ireland from his early days as a professional and his affiliation with John Kavanagh will make his withdrawal a tough pill to swallow for a lot of Irish fans.
For a some Most Valuable Players, the notion of being put in a supporting role may be a tough pill to swallow.
Patterson said: "We're a bit battered and bruised and relegation is a tough pill to swallow.
Fellow Kiwi Williams (above) said: "Mark is a very close mate of mine, so personally it was a tough pill to swallow.
Steve McNamara's side plays only for pride against Papua New Guinea at Eden Park on Saturday and O'Loughlin admits: "It would be a tough pill to swallow if we went home without a win.