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Glite Dictionary
to swallow the leek

to swallow the leek

9.9
To accept something unpleasant during talks to avoid bigger problems
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : tragarse el sapo
  • In tough negotiations, sometimes you have to swallow the leek and accept the other party's demands.

Examples

  • After making a mistake at work, she decided to swallow the leek and apologize to her boss.

  • He found it hard, but he knew he had to swallow the leek and move forward with the plan.

  • He had to swallow the leek during the negotiations.

  • Sometimes, you just have to swallow the leek and move on.

  • After making a mistake at work, she decided to swallow the leek and apologize to her boss.

  • He found it hard, but he knew he had to swallow the leek and move forward with the plan.

  • In tough negotiations, sometimes you have to swallow the leek and accept the other party's demands.

Synonyms

to accept
vsto swallow the leek
∞ 3.5

To tolerate an unpleasant situation without complaining

is focused on yielding to humiliating demands in difficult talks
to swallow
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
146 7.2

To accept something unpleasant without protest

is broader and applies to hard beliefs as well as humiliating demands in talks
to resign
vsto swallow the leek
52 5.1

Accept an unpleasant situation you cannot change

is about accepting humiliation in bargaining rather than passive inevitability
to succumb
vsto swallow the leek
43 7.0

To accept something you tried to refuse

is used to accept humiliating terms in negotiation rather than simply yielding
to acquiesce
vsto swallow the leek
  • Formal
20 8.4

To accept something you do not want without complaining

is a formal reluctant agreement rather than a humiliating compromise
to swallow pride
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
9 5.7

To accept being wrong to make peace or get help

is used to accept humiliating demands during negotiations or hard situations
to take lying down
vsto swallow the leek
8 7.2

To accept unfair treatment or criticism without complaining

is used to accept humiliating terms in talks to keep peace
to grin and bear it
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
5 6.8

To accept an unpleasant situation without complaining

is used to accept humiliating terms during negotiations rather than just endure discomfort
to eat crow
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
4 8.9

To admit you were wrong and feel embarrassed

is often done to keep negotiations going rather than only after being proved wrong
to lump it
vsto swallow the leek
  • UK
3 8.8

Accept something unpleasant without complaining

is often chosen in negotiations to avoid conflict rather than admit humiliation
to eat dirt
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
2 8.9

To admit you are wrong and accept feeling ashamed, often unwillingly

is accepted during bargaining to avoid worse outcomes rather than after defeat
to take one's lumps
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
2 8.1

To accept unpleasant results and sometimes punishment for something you did

is accepted in negotiations to avoid worse outcomes rather than only for past mistakes
to suck a lemon
vsto swallow the leek
  • Informal
9.9

To accept and deal with an unpleasant situation without complaining

is chosen to accept humiliating negotiation terms rather than general resignation

Antonyms

to stand up for oneself
39 3.9

To say firmly what you need or think when people treat you unfairly

How Humble

to eat humble pie
  • Informal
1 7.9
to swallow the leek
  • Archaic
9.9
to swallow pride
  • Informal
9 5.7

Surface Forms

swallow the leek infinitive
swallowed the leek past
swallowed the leek past participle
swallowing the leek present participle
swallows the leek third person singular

Morphology

swallow + the + leek

Although 'swallow' can metaphorically mean 'accept', the noun 'leek' (a vegetable) has no obvious association with humiliation or unpleasant concessions, so the overall meaning is not derivable from the parts. This appears to be a culture-specific idiom whose sense would not be predictable to a B1 learner who only knows the literal meanings of the constituents.

Etymology

The idiom swallow the leek paints the picture of someone forced to swallow a strong, bitter leek, which tastes bad and is hard to do. That's why the phrase means 'to accept something unpleasant or humiliating'.