sweeten the pill

English

Verb

sweeten the pill (third-person singular simple present sweetens the pill, present participle sweetening the pill, simple past and past participle sweetened the pill)

1. Synonym of sugarcoat the pill
   • 1807 January 13, Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to John Dickinson”, in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson‎^[1]:

     This would not sweeten the pill to the French; but in making that acquisition we had some view to our own good as well as theirs, and I believe the greatest good of both will be promoted by whatever will amalgamate us together.

   • 1880, Louisa May Alcott, chapter XXIII, in Jack and Jill: A Village Story:

     Exercise of all sorts is one of the lessons we are to learn,” said Mrs. Minot, suggesting all the pleasant things she could to sweeten the pill for her pupils, two of whom did love their books, not being old enough to know that even an excellent thing may be overdone.

   • 2024 September 4, Philip Haigh, “Can public-private partnerships be made to deliver?”, in RAIL, number 1017, page 53:

     It sweetened this pill by explaining that this figure was not a direct loss - that it was only £170-£410m (£280-£670m today) - because we benefited from Metronet's capital spending.