As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. --Shak.
2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb --
usually followed by up. --Milton.
The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,
and their houses. --Num. xvi.
32.
3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without
examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
--Sir T.
Browne.
4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.
Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the
honor of those who succeeded him. --Pope.
5. To occupy; to take up; to employ.
The necessary provision of the life swallows the
greatest part of their time. --Locke.
6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.
Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty
scattered. --Thomson.
7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions.
``Swallowed his vows whole.'' --Shak.
8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation;
as, to swallow an affront or insult.
Syn: To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See
{Absorb}.