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Mr. Tom Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
When something is too difficult to put up with...
Hi
In my language, there is an idiom which literally means "to drink a glass of blood". It is used to explain that something was too unpleasant/difficult to put up with -- but one did put up with it, and didn't react. Could you please tell me an English substitute for the underlined phrases?
When she insisted that my sister had stolen her money, I just "drank a glass of blood".
Whenever I talk to him on phone, I "drink many glasses of blood". (He is very provocative, but I put up with his nasty behavior)
Hope I am able to get my message across.
Thanks,
Tom
In my language, there is an idiom which literally means "to drink a glass of blood". It is used to explain that something was too unpleasant/difficult to put up with -- but one did put up with it, and didn't react. Could you please tell me an English substitute for the underlined phrases?
When she insisted that my sister had stolen her money, I just "drank a glass of blood".
Whenever I talk to him on phone, I "drink many glasses of blood". (He is very provocative, but I put up with his nasty behavior)
Hope I am able to get my message across.
Thanks,
Tom
Top answer
"put up with it" seems to be the substitute, or "endure the pain/annoyance", but an expression colorful enough to compete with drinking blood does not easily come to mind. to bite the bullet might overlap in some usages. to grin and bear it might overlap as well.
- "put up with it" seems to be the substitute, or "endure the pain/annoyance", but an expression colorful enough to compete with drinking blood does not easily come to mind.
- to bite the bullet might overlap in some usages.
- to grin and bear it might overlap as well.
- CJ
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5 Answers
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"put up with it" seems to be the substitute, or "endure the pain/annoyance", but an expression colorful enough to compete with drinking blood does not easily come to mind.
to bite the bullet might overlap in some usages.
to grin and bear it might overlap as well.
CJ
to bite the bullet might overlap in some usages.
to grin and bear it might overlap as well.
CJ
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Thanks, CJ!
How about "swallow a bitter pill", even if it seems like a bit of a coinage or distortion of the original?
1) When she insisted that my sister had stolen her money, I just swallowed a bitter pill.
2) Every time I speak to him on phone, I swallow many bitter pills.
Does it make any sense to native ears?
Tom
How about "swallow a bitter pill", even if it seems like a bit of a coinage or distortion of the original?
1) When she insisted that my sister had stolen her money, I just swallowed a bitter pill.
2) Every time I speak to him on phone, I swallow many bitter pills.
Does it make any sense to native ears?
Tom
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Mr. Tom"swallow a bitter pill"I'm not familiar with this expression.
It doesn't make sense to my native ears.
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Hi,
The question is, what is the difference between native ears and non-native ears?
Regards
The question is, what is the difference between native ears and non-native ears?
Regards
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