Tragar largo

[Glen]

Swallow hard? Is there a better way in English to express fear or nervousness?

In the account of a sailor (from Puerto Rico) aboard ship during WWII the sentence reads:

Tuvimos un día muy interesante aunque tuvimos que tragar largo. Esta tarde detectaron un submarino, el cual había depositado cinco minas en nuestro camino.

What I got out of it is only:

We had a very interesting day even though we had to ...................... . This afternoon they spotted a submarine, which had placed five mines in our path.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

How about "hold our breath"? :thinking:

[Rusty]

even though we had lumps in our throats

Something like that?

[Glen]

Thanks, I like "lumps in our throats." I can always count on you all for clearing things up.

[JPablo]

Interesting, would "grin and bear it" or "stand the gaff" be applicable here as well?

(It seems to me a bit different, but somewhat in the same vein...)