take your 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 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
See also:
  • take (one's) medicine
  • take medicine
  • take one's 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
References in periodicals archive
Not telling the prescriber that you have stopped or are not able to take your medicines may be harmful to your health and does not allow the problem to be solved.
Making the most of your medicines