take (one's) medicine
take (one's) medicine
To accept and do what has to without complaint or protest, especially when it is unpleasant or difficult. Though he didn't agree with the two-game suspension, he took his medicine and didn't gripe about it to the media. Hopefully the election result will send a clear message to the losing party, and they'll finally take their medicine and do what's right for the country.
See also: medicine, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take one's medicine
Fig. to accept the consequences or the bad fortune that one deserves. (Alludes to having to take unpleasant-tasting medicine.) I know I did wrong, and I know I have to take my medicine. Billy knew he was going to get spanked, and he didn't want to take his medicine.
See also: medicine, take
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
take one's medicine
Put up with unpleasantness, learn one's lesson. For example, After failing math, he had to take his medicine and go to summer school. This idiom uses medicine in the sense of "a bitter-tasting remedy." [Mid-1800s]
See also: medicine, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
take your ˈmedicine (like a ˈman)
(usually humorous) accept something unpleasant, for example, punishment, without protesting or complaining: He really hates shopping, but he goes anyway and takes his medicine like a man.See also: medicine, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- take medicine
- take one's medicine
- take your medicine
- like pulling teeth
- learn (something) the hard way
- learn the hard way
- get (something) over with
- get it over with
- find (something) out the hard way
- come to a bad end