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  What it means

  Literally “bitter pill,” this idiom describes an unpleasant truth, difficult reality, or painful experience that must be accepted even though it is hard to swallow. It is used when someone has to face bad news, an uncomfortable fact, or an unfair outcome: “Porażka w wyborach to gorzka pigułka do przełknięcia.” It is almost always used with ‘przełknąć’ (to swallow) or ‘do przełknięcia’ (to swallow), mirroring the English idiom perfectly.

  Vocabulary

  • gorzka — bitter (feminine adjective agreeing with 'pigułka')
  • pigułka — pill, tablet
  • przełknąć — to swallow (perfective verb)
  • do przełknięcia — to be swallowed, to swallow (verbal noun phrase)

  Grammar note

  'Gorzka' is a feminine nominative singular adjective agreeing with 'pigułka' (feminine noun). In the full collocated phrase 'gorzka pigułka do przełknięcia,' the infinitive/verbal noun 'przełknięcia' is in the genitive after 'do,' expressing purpose or tendency. The phrase functions as a noun phrase and can appear in any case.

  Cultural context

  The idiom is a direct parallel to the English 'bitter pill to swallow' and is equally common in Polish. It is neutral in register and appears in newspapers, political commentary, and everyday speech. Polish speakers are very comfortable using it both literally (medicine that tastes bad) and figuratively.

  Beginner

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