"To Swallow": Literal and Figurative Meanings

The verb swallow has both literal and metaphorical uses:

Literal

To voluntarily move a substance from the mouth through the pharynx and esophagus into the stomach.

Figurative

• Accept without protest: "She swallowed the unfair criticism."
• Suppress emotion/reaction: "He swallowed his anger."
• Endure a setback: "They swallowed the loss and moved on."
• Believe uncritically: "Don't just swallow everything you read."
• Submit/yield: "Forced to swallow his pride."
• Absorb information eagerly: "She swallowed every word of the lecture."

Context and tone determine the precise nuance. Figurative uses often imply reluctance, difficulty, or passivity.