I Can’t Stomach It

The phrase, ‘I can’t stomach it’ means that you can’t tolerate it any longer.  It is something that you find disgusting.  Usually, this phrase is used to talk about something that makes you feel ill.  I can’t stomach it sounds like it will make you vomit.

Example 1:  I can’t stomach the sight of blood.
Example 2:  I can’t stomach his views on abortion. 

In today’s phrase, stomach is used as a verb that means ‘tolerate without a strong reaction.’  It has been used in this way since 1523.  So, to say that you can’t stomach something is to say that you can’t tolerate it.  Perhaps it will make you vomit.

I can’t stand it is very similar to I can’t stomach it.  They are both ways to say you can’t tolerate something.  However, I can’t stomach it has a feeling of disgust.

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Reference:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stomach