a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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acknowledge the corn »
To cop a plea; to admit to a small error but not a larger one.
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all's fair in love and war »
unpleasant behavior is acceptable during love and conflict.
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apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
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bad news »
News of unpleasant, unfortunate or sad events.
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bad penny »
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
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be in for »
To be able to expect or anticipate; to be about to suffer, generally said of something unpleasant.
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beat around the bush »
To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
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bed of roses »
A pleasant or easy situation.
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beer and skittles »
Something pleasurable.
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between a rock and a hard place »
Having the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a predicament or quandary.
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bitter pill »
Something unpleasant that must be accepted or endured.
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blow chunks »
To be very bad, inadequate, unpleasant, or miserable; to thoroughly suck.
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bomb around »
The drive around at speed for pleasure.
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business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
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can't wait »
To eagerly anticipate; to find it unbearable to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.
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cold comfort »
Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires.
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come the acid »
To make oneself unpleasant, especially by sarcasm.
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dog's life »
A life of indolence where the individual may do as he or she pleases, just like a pampered dog.
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face the music »
To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
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face up to »
To confront a condition or situation, typically one that is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
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fear »
A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
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feast for the eyes »
Visually pleasing sight.
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fly in the ointment »
Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.
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footloose and fancy free »
Able to do as one pleases, unconstrained by social ties or responsibilities.
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for kicks »
In order to obtain pleasure or excitement; for fun.
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forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
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get it over with »
To do or finish, especially said of something unpleasant.
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get something over with »
To do something quickly and hastily; without procrastination, especially so as to have something unpleasant behind oneself.
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give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
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give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
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glutton for punishment »
One persistent in an effort in spite of harmful or unpleasant results.
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hatchet man »
Someone who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.
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have it large »
To engage intensely in pleasure-seeking activities.
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hell on earth »
A very unpleasant situation; torment, particularly when widespread.
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hell raiser »
wild pleasure seeker
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hit the spot »
To be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.
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horse's ass »
A jerk; an unpleasant, unlikable person; an asshole.
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in hot water »
In trouble; in the position of arousing somebody's anger or displeasure.
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jet set »
A set of wealthy people who travel for pleasure.
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jet-setter »
A member of the jet set, a rich person who travels for pleasure.
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kick butt »
To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.
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lie back and think of England »
Used to preface any unpleasant but inevitable experience.
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life's not all skittles and beer »
Skittles and Beer refers to the carefree, indulgent bar life; skittles being a British pub game. Thus, life's not all skittles and beer means that not everything is about pleasure.
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look forward »
To anticipate or expect; especially, to expect something to be pleasant.
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look forward to »
To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure.
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on top of the world »
Delighted; ecstatic; exceptionally pleased, happy, or satisfied.
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one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
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out of proportion »
Not in a proper or pleasing relation to other things, especially in terms of size.
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pardon my French »
Please excuse my swearing or bad language.
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plead the fifth »
To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
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plead the fifth »
To refuse to answer a question, or refuse to speak, especially when the response would reflect badly on the speaker.
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pleased as Punch »
Pleased with one's actions or achievements.
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sex machine »
Any machine that is used for sexual pleasure.
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sexual enjoyment »
Sexual intercourse that produces physical and psychological pleasure.
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sight for sore eyes »
A pleasing sight, something that is beautiful to look at.
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stew in one's juices »
To be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experiencing the unpleasant effects of one's own actions.
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take a powder »
To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.
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take something in one's stride »
Not to allow oneself to be set back, daunted, upset or embarrassed by unpleasant or undesirable circumstances.
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thanks for nothing »
Expression of displeasure towards a person who has not provided what was wanted.
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the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get »
(vulgar) The sexual satisfactions that one receives from a spouse or romantic partner are not sufficient to compensate for the significant periods of bad faith and unpleasant treatment which such relationships routinely involve.1971, Allen Churchill, The Literary Decade, ISBN 9780135375228:Years later she expressed her disillusionment with sex by saying, "The fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."1999, Ben Sonnenberg, Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy, ISBN 9781582430454, p. 93:Maitland got drunk at his parties and threw his arm around you and pulled you over to his wife and made you look down her dress, saying, "The trouble with marriage is that the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."2008, Joseph Heywood, Blue Wolf In Green Fire, ISBN 9781599213590, p. 63:"I can't believe a little pussy got me into dis mess." "Shit happens," Service said. "Sometimes the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."
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the pits »
Something miserable or unpleasant.
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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
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turn on »
To attract, give pleasure, or encourage.
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turn up for the book »
A very unexpected, usually pleasant, surprise.
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turn-on »
Something that attracts, gives pleasure, or encourages, especially sexually.
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walk in the park »
Something easy or pleasant, especially by comparison to something.
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where there's muck there's brass »
(UK, Irish) There is money to be made in unpleasant dirty jobs.
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wolf in sheep's clothing »
Something harmful or problematic disguised as something peaceful or pleasant.
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you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear »
It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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