Not about actual sugar or pills. Used metaphorically to describe making a tough situation nicer. To ease the news of the longer working hours, the boss decided to sugar the pill with a bonus.
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Softening Impact
Used when trying to lessen the negative impact or feeling associated with receiving bad news. The teacher sugared the pill of extra homework with a promise of a class party after completion.
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Common Contexts
Often used in professional or personal situations where changes are unavoidable but the effects can be eased. To sugar the pill of moving to a new city, his parents bought him a new bicycle.