sugarcoat the pill

Definitions

To make an unpleasant event less displeasing.

idiomatic, informal

Examples

“Near-synonyms: polish a turd, put⟳ lipstick on a pig, sweeten the pot”

“To sugarcoat the pill of payment the receiver of the tax was wont to refer⟳ to it disparagingly in the diminutive, calling it “la huchette,” “the little tax on a fish⟳ stall.””

“Philosophy supposes that the argument is merely flavored with such imported images to sugarcoat the pill of difficult thinking for those unused to the bitter remedy of rigorous thought.”

“One middle-aged woman does not sugar-coat the pill, rating the experience⟳ “one out of 10” because “shops keep⟳ shutting”.”

CEFR level