“苦果”，原本是佛教用语，字面意思是“bitter fruit”，比喻不得不接受的痛苦结果（A situation or result that is unpleasant but must be accepted），与英文谚语“a bitter pill to swallow”意思相似。常用表达如，“自食苦果（ eat the bitter fruit of one's own making）”。

 

尽管后来他成了事业有成的生意人，以前的犯罪前科终究让他尝到了苦果。

Although he subsequently¹ became a successful businessman, his criminal past caught up with him.

 

我做出了错误的决定只得自食苦果。

I had to pay the penalty² for the wrong decisions I made.