engolir sapo

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, "to swallow a toad". Compare Hungarian lenyeli a békát, French avaler un crapaud and German eine Kröte schlucken.

Verb

engolir sapo (first-person singular present engulo sapo, third-person singular present engole sapo, first-person singular preterite engoli sapo, past participle engolido sapo)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to swallow a bitter pill, to bite the bullet (to endure or withstand something painful or difficult)