bitter pill

基本解釋

Both were the right thing to do, but doing them simultaneously increased costs and made a bitter pill for investors.
所有的事情都是對的，但同時做這些事增加了成本，并且給投資者開了味苦藥。
Over thepast six years the House Republicans have repeatedly snuffled up the sugar that had been meant to make the bitter pill of entitlement reform go down, without swallowing the hard stuff.
在過去超過六年（的時間）眾議院共和黨人在沒有耗盡現(xiàn)金的情況下，已經反復地嗅著去找那個已經意味著減少制造”合法權利改革”苦藥丸的糖。
A tough loss, and a bitter pill to swallow, but with distance the US players can certainly be proud of their efforts.
這是一場艱難的失敗，一顆難以吞咽的苦果。但長遠地看，美國球員可以當之無愧地為自己的努力而驕傲。

For industrialists paying reluctantly to clean up their act, that must be a bitter pill.
ECONOMIST: Emissions
In contrast, social is a patience game, which for many can be a bitter pill.
FORBES: Why Small Businesses Are Losing On Social Media
Her prescription is to "fess up" and take the bitter pill that is cost evaluation.
FORBES: Magazine Article