hard time
The phrase "hard time" can refer to periods of difficulty or challenges, as well as a term of imprisonment.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(colloquial)A period marked by difficulties or challenges.
Example
- She had a hard time adjusting to her new job.
- The company is going through a hard time financially.
C1Law
(colloquial)A term of imprisonment.
Example
- He served hard time for his involvement in the robbery.
B2Interpersonal
(colloquial, idiomatic)To make things difficult or unpleasant for someone.
Example
- His friends gave him a hard time about his new haircut.
- She always gives her brother a hard time when he visits.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "hard time":
hard goinghard wordhard outhard luckgive someone a hard timemake hard work ofhard uphard nut to cracktight spottough luckhard byin troubletough nut to crackgood timelong time