hard knocks

American  

[hahrd noks] / ˈhɑrd ˈnɒks /

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

See Examples For:

hard knocks

Most of us learn this by about third grade, when parents and hard knocks teach us how to figure out whom you can trust, and who will eat you for lunch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025

"Everyone loved her. I grew up with Tina Turner and she was a great woman to me, with a lot of sorrow too due to life's hard knocks but absolutely someone we could admire."

From Reuters ● May 25, 2023

Australian rugby league in the early 1990s was an unforgiving school of hard knocks, tough men and scant sympathy.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2023

We can also infer some hard knocks and bad decisions in his past.

From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2022

Shasta cried only a very little; he was used to hard knocks.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis