sugar the pill

Related to sugar the pill: sweeten the pill

sugar the pill

To make something bad, unpleasant, or dissatisfactory easier to cope with, endure, or accept. The bosses are giving everyone an extra bonus this year, but I suspect it's a way of sugaring the pill with the massive layoffs that are scheduled. I have to tell my mom about wrecking her car, but I need to find a way to sugar the pill first.
See also: pill, sugar
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sugar the pill

Make something unpleasant more palatable, as in There would be no Christmas bonus this year but management sugared the pill by giving workers extra vacation time over the holidays . [Late 1700s]
See also: pill, sugar
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

sugar the pill

BRITISH or

sugar-coat the pill

AMERICAN
COMMON If you sugar the pill, you try to make bad news or an unpleasant situation seem less unpleasant. Stirling tried to sugar the pill for his employee. `There'll be a ten thousand pound bonus if you agree to go quietly.' His bitter pill was sugar-coated with a promise of `free and fair' elections. Note: In British English, you can also say that you sweeten the pill. A few words of praise help to sweeten the pill of criticism.
See also: pill, sugar
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

sugar (or sweeten) the pill

make an unpleasant or painful necessity more acceptable.
The image here is of making bitter-tasting medicine more palatable by adding sugar.
See also: pill, sugar
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

sugar/sweeten the ˈpill

make something unpleasant seem less unpleasant: He tried to sweeten the pill by telling her she’d only be in hospital a few days.
See also: pill, sugar, sweeten
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • sugar/sweeten the pill
  • sugar-coat the pill
  • sweeten the pill
  • suck it up
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • have no stomach for something
  • have the stomach for
  • be tainted by (something)
  • close (one's) eyes and think of England
References in periodicals archive
Coun Les Lawrence tries to sugar the pill but he is disingenuous.
LETTER: Against and for academies
The effect on the largest farmers is less than under the Commissioner's original proposals, and to sugar the pill further, she suggests that all the funds deducted should remain at the disposal of the member state concerned; at present 20% may be reallocated to another member state by the Commission.
Farming: controversial EU cap plans; EURO VIEW
But to sugar the pill he revealed plans to implement a task group to look at a successor scheme for Tir Mynydd.
Minister pursues plan to axe relief
It might sugar the pill if you treat your mum to a mini Christmas either before you go or on your return.
Christmas is difficult as I am divorced
At one stage it was the biggest blue chip faller in Europe as investors reacted to the prospect of continuing cost pressures with no profit upgrades to sugar the pill.
Barclays share take a tumble
And to sugar the pill, Osborne has been crafty enough to find money to freeze council tax if local authorities meet certain demands.
Cunning plan to suck councils dry
The Chancellor has sought to sugar the pill by signalling another freeze in fuel duties and a new child tax credit, including help for parents who stay at home to look after their youngsters.
Brown prepares Budget gamble
To sugar the pill, they sent him the freedom of the borough in a richly-carved casket made of mulberry wood.
MIDLANDS millennium Good, bard and the mulberry; Chris Upton looks back to Stratford in the 18th century while Ross Reyburn investigates the present
And the timescale for raising the pension age to 67 and 68 is now also likely to be accelerated, Mr Osborne tried to sugar the pill by saying the Government would stick to Labour's policies of free eye tests, free bus passes and free prescription charges for pensioners.
Pay far more in ..get far less out; PENSIONS