choke-pear
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of pear: "choke-pear" refers to a variety of pear that is astringent and difficult to swallow, often causing a choking sensation.
- Figurative use: It can also denote something that is hard to accept or endure, such as a bitter truth or a harsh criticism.
Usage Examples
- Literal:
- The wild choke-pear was so sour that it made him cough. (A pear that is unpleasant to eat due to its astringency.)
- Figurative:
- Her sharp remark was a choke-pear for his pride. (A comment that was difficult to tolerate or accept.)
Advanced Usage
"to give someone a choke-pear": to present someone with a difficult or unpleasant situation or truth.
- The judge's verdict was a choke-pear for the defendant. (The decision was hard to accept.)
"to swallow a choke-pear": to endure something unpleasant or humiliating.
- He had to swallow the choke-pear of losing the competition. (He had to accept the bitter outcome.)
Variants and Related Words
- Choke (v): to have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- She began to choke on a piece of bread. (She had trouble breathing due to an obstruction.)
- Pear (n): a sweet fruit with a rounded shape.
- He picked a ripe pear from the tree. (A common edible fruit.)
Synonyms
- Astringent fruit: a fruit that causes a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth.
- Bitter pill: something unpleasant that must be accepted.
Related Idioms
a hard pill to swallow: something difficult to accept.
- Losing the match was a hard pill to swallow for the team. (A disappointing outcome.)
to eat humble pie: to admit an error and apologize.
- After his mistake, he had to eat humble pie in front of his colleagues. (He had to show humility.)