Hard to Swallow

Meaning: Something that is difficult to believe

or accept.

Origin: From the 17th century. It refers to pills that are sometimes hard to swallow. It originated as bitter (a bitter pill to swallow) and evolved to hard later on. It can be heard as “tough to swallow,” or, “A tough pill to swallow.”

“Honestly, his excuse is hard to swallow. I just don't believe that he was sick the day before a long weekend.”

“Getting fired was hard to swallow, especially after I put my heart and soul into that company.”