expression, suru verb (special)
drink a bitter cup; have a bitter experience; suffer a defeat
Idiomatic expression meaning to endure a painful or humiliating experience, often a defeat or setback. Similar to 苦杯をなめる, but 喫する is a more formal, literary verb for 'drink'.
See also: 苦杯をなめる
彼は選挙で苦杯を喫した。
He suffered a bitter defeat in the election.
After negotiations, we ended up having to swallow a bitter pill.