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medicine
a dose of (one's) own medicine
An experience of the same harmful or unpleasant thing that one has inflicted on others; an attack in the same manner in which one attacks others. John has gossiped about everyone in our group, so we gave him a dose of his own medicine by spreading rumors about him. The coup gave the dictatorship a dose of its own medicine, subjecting the dictator and his entourage to torture and confinement in deplorable conditions.
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
Something good makes something bad more tolerable. I'm going to put on some fun background music while I work on this boring project because a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
a bitter pill
An unwanted or unpleasant situation that someone is forced to accept. A shortening of the phrase, "a bitter pill to swallow." When Brett's parents stopped giving him money to pay his bills and told him to get a job, it was a bitter pill for him to swallow. Getting a poor performance review was a bitter pill, but it made me a better worker.
give (one) a taste of (one's) own medicine
To do something (usually unpleasant) to someone who usually acts in the same way. Bill is always excluding me from things, so I'm going to give him a taste of his own medicine and not invite him to my party. This team likes to play tough defense, so let's give them a taste of their own medicine and not give them any space to score.
socialized medicine
A system of national healthcare that is funded by taxes and provided to people by the government. Ever since I got sick, my medical expenses have been so outrageous that I'm thinking of moving to a country that has socialized medicine.
a taste of (one's) own medicine
The same unpleasant experience or treatment that one has given to others. Doug is a bully—of course he won't like it when his victims fight back and give him a taste of his own medicine. This team likes to play rough, so let's go out there and give them a taste of their own medicine!
snakebite medicine
Inf. inferior whiskey; strong whiskey; homemade whiskey. That old-time snakebite medicine is good for what ails you. snakebite medicine is a tremendous protection against snakebites if you can get the snake to drink the stuff before it bites you.
take one's medicine
Fig. to accept the consequences or the bad fortune that one deserves. (Alludes to having to take unpleasant-tasting medicine.) I know I did wrong, and I know I have to take my medicine. Billy knew he was going to get spanked, and he didn't want to take his medicine.
*a taste of one's own medicine
and *a dose of one's own medicineFig. a sample of the unpleasantness that one has been giving other people. (Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Now you see how it feels to have someone call you names! You are getting a taste of your own medicine! John, who is often rude and abrupt with people, was devastated when the teacher treated him rudely. He doesn't like having a dose of his own medicine.
a bitter pill (to swallow)
an unpleasant situation that must be accepted Losing the championship was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that was used to winning every year. Having his fate in the hands of others is a bitter pill for this proud man.
a bitter pill (to swallow)
also bitter medicine a situation that is unpleasant but must be accepted Losing the championship to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow. Cuts in salaries are a dose of bitter medicine that may help the company to survive.
Laughter is the best medicine.
something that you say which means that it is good for your physical and mental health to laugh A visit from Camille always makes me feel better - she's so hilarious. It's like they say, laughter's the best medicine.
give somebody a dose/taste of their own medicine
to do the same bad thing to someone that they have often done to you, in order to show them how unpleasant it is She's always turning up late for me so I thought I'd give her a taste of her own medicine and see how she likes it.
dose of one's own medicine
Also, taste of one's own medicine. Repayment or retaliation, as in It's time we gave them a dose of their own medicine and simply forget to call them back , or Joe was upset at being left out, but they were just giving him a taste of his own medicine . [Late 1800s]
take one's medicine
Put up with unpleasantness, learn one's lesson. For example, After failing math, he had to take his medicine and go to summer school. This idiom uses medicine in the sense of "a bitter-tasting remedy." [Mid-1800s]
snakebite medicine
n. inferior whiskey; strong whiskey; homemade whiskey. Snakebite medicine is a tremendous protection against snakebites if you can get the snake to drink the stuff before it tries to bite you.