苦く杯はいをなめる

expression, ichidan verb

drink a bitter cup; have a bitter experience; suffer a defeat

Idiomatic expression for enduring a humiliating or painful setback, often in competition or conflict. The literal image is of drinking from a bitter cup.

• 彼かれは選せん挙きょで苦く杯はいをなめた。

  He suffered a bitter defeat in the election.

• 交こう渉しょうの場ばで苦く杯はいをなめることもある。

  Sometimes you have to swallow a bitter pill in negotiations.