hard knocks

[ hahrd noks ]

plural noun

1. adversity or hardships:

   Wouldn't it be lovely to be able to learn life's hard lessons without life's hard knocks?

   Growing up in the Depression, my grandfather had his share of hard knocks.

Example Sentences

Parents sometimes have an attitude of, “I was brought up in the school of hard knocks, no one babied me.”

From The Daily Beast

People view it as a career of … some hard knocks,” he said in his retirement conference, “But I got to play.

From The Daily Beast

Parole femmine, fatti maschi, and the logic of events isn't altogether words; it's full of hard knocks, too.

From Project Gutenberg

We may expect the minor moralities to suffer while the major moralities are being determined by hard knocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Molire, like most successful men, had a good many enemies, and was accustomed to give and receive very hard knocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Best of all, the Prince loved her, and she had no more hard knocks and cross words.

From Project Gutenberg

He comprehends what difficulties mean, having had his own hard knocks.

From Project Gutenberg