sugar-coat the pill

sugar-coat the pill

To make something bad, unpleasant, or dissatisfactory easier to cope with, endure, or accept. The bosses are giving everyone an extra 10% bonus this Christmas, but I suspect it's a way of sugar-coating the pill that there will be massive pay cuts in January. I have to tell my mom about wrecking her car, but I need to find a way to sugar-coat the pill first.
See also: pill
References in periodicals archive ?
Some of the early models have died, while some who originally came to watch are now themselves battling the illness, and he is hard-headed enough not to sugar-coat the pill.
Milne tells of motivation ation for Courage; CHARITY CATWALK EVENT ? Exclusive: Key sponsor reveals what drives his fundraising efforts
APOEL's spokesman pointed out that the CFA tried to "sugar-coat the pill" by deciding that the match should recommence from the beginning and not be played for the remaining 39 minutes.
APOEL fans gather to protest match decision
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?