a bitter pill to swallow / take

/ɐ bˈɪtə pˈɪl tʊ swˈɒləʊ tˈeɪk/

/ɐ bˈɪɾɚ pˈɪl tʊ swˈɑːloʊ tˈeɪk/

something so unpleasant that a person has to struggle to accept it

Examples

1. Having to seek his foe's aid was a bitter pill to take.

2. Having to seek his foe's aid was a bitter pill to take.

3. Losing to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.

4. Losing to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.