Swallowing is something we all do every day. But in English, people also use the word “swallow” in many idioms. These are special phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they help us talk about feelings, actions, and ideas in fun or strong ways. Idioms make speaking and writing more interesting. They also help people understand each other better.
This article will explore idioms about swallowing. These phrases are often used to talk about emotions, surprises, or situations that are hard to accept. You might hear them in stories, movies, or everyday talk. Learning these idioms can help you understand more of what people really mean, even if they don’t say it directly.
Idioms About Swallowing
1. Swallow your pride
Meaning: Accept something embarrassing or admit you were wrong
Example Sentence:
– She had to swallow her pride and say sorry.
– He swallowed his pride and asked for help with homework.
Other ways to say: Accept defeat, admit fault
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom compares pride to something you have to gulp down even when it’s hard.
Usage: Used when someone lets go of their ego.
2. Swallow your words
Meaning: Take back something you said
Example Sentence:
– He had to swallow his words after learning the truth.
– She said I was wrong, but then she swallowed her words later.
Other ways to say: Take it back, admit mistake
Fun Fact/Origin: Like eating your own words because they were wrong.
Usage: Used when someone regrets what they said.
3. Hard to swallow
Meaning: Difficult to accept or believe
Example Sentence:
– The news was hard to swallow for the whole class.
– It’s hard to swallow that he moved away without saying goodbye.
Other ways to say: Hard to believe, tough to accept
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of choking on bad news like it’s tough food.
Usage: Used when something is upsetting or shocking.
4. Bitter pill to swallow
Meaning: Something unpleasant that must be accepted
Example Sentence:
– Losing the game was a bitter pill to swallow.
– Failing the test was a bitter pill to swallow for her.
Other ways to say: Tough truth, harsh reality
Fun Fact/Origin: Pills used to taste bitter, making them hard to take.
Usage: Used when someone faces a difficult truth.
5. Swallow it whole
Meaning: Believe or accept something completely without question
Example Sentence:
– Don’t swallow every story you hear on the internet whole.
– He swallowed the rumor whole without checking the facts.
Other ways to say: Believe completely, fall for it
Fun Fact/Origin: From the image of swallowing something without chewing or thinking.
Usage: Used when someone believes something too easily.
I’ll now continue with the next five idioms.
Here are the next 5 idioms about swallowing:
6. Swallow your fear
Meaning: Be brave even when you feel scared
Example Sentence:
– She swallowed her fear and went on stage.
– He swallowed his fear and climbed the tall ladder.
Other ways to say: Be brave, push through fear
Fun Fact/Origin: Like holding fear inside and not showing it.
Usage: Used when someone does something scary anyway.
7. Swallow the bait
Meaning: Fall for a trick or trap
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed the bait and clicked the fake ad.
– The prank was clever, and she swallowed the bait.
Other ways to say: Fall for it, get tricked
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from fishing—fish swallow bait on a hook.
Usage: Used when someone is fooled.
8. Swallow whole
Meaning: Completely cover or take in something
Example Sentence:
– The wave almost swallowed the sandcastle whole.
– The big dog looked like it could swallow the toy whole.
Other ways to say: Take in fully, cover completely
Fun Fact/Origin: Visual of something being eaten all at once.
Usage: Used when something is completely taken over.
9. Hard to swallow story
Meaning: A story that’s unbelievable
Example Sentence:
– His excuse for being late was a hard to swallow story.
– Saying aliens took his homework is a hard to swallow story.
Other ways to say: Far-fetched, unlikely
Fun Fact/Origin: Like trying to eat something that doesn’t go down well.
Usage: Used when someone tells a story that sounds made up.
10. Swallow the insult
Meaning: Ignore an insult and not respond
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed the insult and walked away.
– She didn’t say anything back—she just swallowed the insult.
Other ways to say: Let it go, ignore it
Fun Fact/Origin: Like taking in something hurtful and not reacting.
Usage: Used when someone stays calm after being insulted.
11. Swallow your anger
Meaning: Keep yourself from getting angry
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed his anger and didn’t shout back.
– She wanted to yell but swallowed her anger instead.
Other ways to say: Hold it in, stay calm
Fun Fact/Origin: Like holding down a strong feeling.
Usage: Used when someone chooses not to act on their anger.
12. Swallow the truth
Meaning: Accept the truth, even if it’s painful
Example Sentence:
– She had to swallow the truth about her mistake.
– It was hard for him to swallow the truth.
Other ways to say: Face the truth, accept reality
Fun Fact/Origin: Like taking in something unpleasant.
Usage: Used when someone must deal with a hard fact.
13. Swallow it down
Meaning: Push back emotions or reactions
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed it down and didn’t cry.
– She wanted to laugh but swallowed it down.
Other ways to say: Keep in, hold back
Fun Fact/Origin: Related to pushing emotions like swallowing food.
Usage: Used when someone hides how they feel.
14. Swallowed up in work
Meaning: Very busy with tasks
Example Sentence:
– I was swallowed up in work all day.
– She got swallowed up in homework and forgot to eat.
Other ways to say: Overwhelmed, buried in work
Fun Fact/Origin: Like being eaten by too much to do.
Usage: Used when someone is extremely busy.
15. Swallowed his pride and apologized
Meaning: Put aside ego to say sorry
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed his pride and apologized for his mistake.
– She didn’t want to, but she swallowed her pride and said sorry.
Other ways to say: Say sorry, admit fault
Fun Fact/Origin: Mix of ego and courage—doing what’s right even if it’s hard.
Usage: Used when someone acts kindly even if it’s hard.
16. Swallowed whole by the crowd
Meaning: Lost or hidden in a large group
Example Sentence:
– He was swallowed whole by the crowd at the fair.
– The ball was swallowed whole by the fans in the stands.
Other ways to say: Lost in the crowd, disappeared in a group
Fun Fact/Origin: Like being eaten by a large group.
Usage: Used when someone gets lost in a big group.
17. Swallow disappointment
Meaning: Accept something that didn’t go your way
Example Sentence:
– She swallowed her disappointment and smiled.
– He wanted to win, but he swallowed the disappointment.
Other ways to say: Accept defeat, move on
Fun Fact/Origin: Like taking in something unpleasant without complaint.
Usage: Used when someone hides sadness or frustration.
18. Swallowed his words
Meaning: Couldn’t speak clearly or backed out
Example Sentence:
– He tried to explain, but he swallowed his words.
– She started to speak, then swallowed her words.
Other ways to say: Mumbled, stopped talking
Fun Fact/Origin: Like eating your words before saying them.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t finish what they want to say.
19. Swallow that idea
Meaning: Accept a new or strange idea
Example Sentence:
– It’s hard to swallow that idea, but I’ll try.
– She couldn’t swallow that idea at first.
Other ways to say: Go along with, accept
Fun Fact/Origin: Like trying to take in a new idea like it’s food.
Usage: Used when someone tries to understand or agree with something.
20. Swallow the news
Meaning: Take in and process news or updates
Example Sentence:
– He needed time to swallow the news.
– She sat quietly, trying to swallow the news.
Other ways to say: Accept, take in
Fun Fact/Origin: Like taking in something that’s hard to hear.
Usage: Used when someone is reacting to news.
21. Swallowed up by the storm
Meaning: Taken over or overwhelmed
Example Sentence:
– The small boat was swallowed up by the storm.
– Her voice was swallowed up by the loud wind.
Other ways to say: Taken over, drowned out
Fun Fact/Origin: Like something disappearing into a big force.
Usage: Used when something is taken by a strong force.
22. Swallow it like medicine
Meaning: Do something you don’t want to, but must
Example Sentence:
– He didn’t like the rule, but he swallowed it like medicine.
– She didn’t want to practice, but she swallowed it like medicine.
Other ways to say: Accept, go along with
Fun Fact/Origin: Like taking medicine that doesn’t taste good.
Usage: Used when someone does something for their good even if they don’t like it.
23. Swallowed by silence
Meaning: A place suddenly goes very quiet
Example Sentence:
– The classroom was swallowed by silence after the teacher yelled.
– The room was swallowed by silence during the test.
Other ways to say: Went quiet, fell silent
Fun Fact/Origin: Like noise disappearing quickly.
Usage: Used when everything suddenly gets quiet.
24. Swallowed the truth like a pill
Meaning: Accepted something hard without showing it
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed the truth like a pill and nodded.
– She didn’t cry; she swallowed the truth like a pill.
Other ways to say: Took it, didn’t react
Fun Fact/Origin: Swallowing a pill without complaint shows strength.
Usage: Used when someone accepts a hard truth calmly.
25. Swallow the whole thing
Meaning: Believe every part of a story or lie
Example Sentence:
– He swallowed the whole thing without asking questions.
– Don’t swallow the whole thing just because he said so.
Other ways to say: Believe it all, fall for it
Fun Fact/Origin: Like eating everything on your plate without thinking.
Usage: Used when someone believes something fully.
Quiz: Idioms About Swallowing
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “swallow your pride” mean?
A) Eat too much at once
B) Say something mean
C) Admit you were wrong
2. If someone had to “swallow the news,” what would they do?
A) Eating quickly
B) Accepting the news
C) Yelling it out loud
3. “That story is hard to swallow” means:
A) It tastes bad
B) It’s hard to believe
C) It’s about food
4. What does “swallowed by silence” mean?
A) It got really quiet
B) People are eating quietly
C) The room is loud
5. “He swallowed his anger” means he:
A) Got really mad
B) Stayed calm
C) Said something mean
6. “Swallow the bait” means:
A) Eat something gross
B) Fall for a trick
C) Tell a secret
7. What does it mean if someone “swallowed their words”?
A) They mumbled or didn’t finish talking
B) They ate too fast
C) They sang a song
8. “Swallowed up by the storm” means:
A) The storm ended
B) Someone ran away
C) Taken over or lost in the storm
9. “Swallow it like medicine” means:
A) It tastes sweet
B) Do something even if you don’t want to
C) Refuse to try something
10. What does “swallow disappointment” mean?
A) Feel angry
B) Forget everything
C) Accept that things didn’t go your way
Answer Key
- C) Admit you were wrong
- B) Accepting the news
- B) It’s hard to believe
- A) It got really quiet
- B) Stayed calm
- B) Fall for a trick
- A) They mumbled or didn’t finish talking
- C) Taken over or lost in the storm
- B) Do something even if you don’t want to
- C) Accept that things didn’t go your way
Wrapping Up
Idioms about swallowing help us talk about big feelings in a simple way. They show how people deal with hard news, tough choices, or strong emotions. Instead of saying exactly what we feel, we use these phrases to make our words more colorful and clear.
Now that you know these idioms, you’ll be able to understand them when people use them in stories or real life. They also help you express yourself better. The next time you feel nervous, surprised, or brave, think of how one of these idioms might fit.
