hard knocks
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Related to hard knocks: School of Hard Knocks
hard knocks
pl.n. Informal
The practical experiences of life, including hardships and disappointments: "He hadn't grown up in the school of hard knocks. Politically he had lived an easy life" (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hard′ knocks′
n.pl.
Informal.
adversity or hardships.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | hard knocks - a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship" ill-being - lack of prosperity or happiness or health bad luck, ill luck, tough luck, misfortune - an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes disaster, catastrophe - a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster" extremity - an extreme condition or state (especially of adversity or disease) distress - a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress" affliction - a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity victimization - adversity resulting from being made a victim; "his victimization infuriated him" low-water mark, nadir - an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything |
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