very contentious and difficult to swallow.

That's the mission that is in the direst need. This makes it even more difficult to swallow.

That's a really difficult thing to swallow. They end up smelling like a rose when, in fact, they had a really poor play.

It didn't go smoothly; it was the most contentious thing I've ever done.

great deal more contentious.

I think they can be very contentious days.