hard time

noun

1. a period of difficulties or hardship.
2. Slang. time actually served in a prison or other penal institution:

   He had merely been fined before, but now was sentenced to 90 days' hard time in the county jail.

3. give a hard time, Informal. to bother, annoy, or harass:

   He gave me a hard time about the money I owe him.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard time¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

“I have a hard time grasping how this was fatal for Tiffany and for me it felt like a bad sinus infection,” Castelo said.

From Washington Post

A trade with the Bears could include former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, although Philadelphia might have a hard time fitting him under the salary cap.

From Washington Post

The thing is that my boyfriend’s friend is going through a hard time.

From Outside Online

That means those towns also will have a hard time getting taxpayers off the hook for any established benefits, even when a contract expires, unless the police union agrees to the change, an expert said.

From ProPublica

Women have a particularly hard time guiding such perceptions -- the amount of time and effort that it takes to be seen as a legitimate and credible product CEO makes it nearly impossible to change course.

From Washington Post

For years, Cuomo gave me a hard time every time we crossed paths about whether I had cuffs or pleats.

From The Daily Beast

Ivgy herself formed a special attachment to Zohar and says she “had a really hard time” once shooting wrapped.

From The Daily Beast

Even the most enterprising toddler would have a hard time swallowing one.

From The Daily Beast

I think audience members will have a hard time resisting her charm.

From The Daily Beast

“I think millennials staying home and socializing on the Internet is a real factor in bars having a hard time,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

I had a hard time keeping him away from the herd, and despite all my urging, he ran right into the river.

From Project Gutenberg

I had a hard time among them, and was satisfied that they intended to execute me.

From Project Gutenberg

That might come later, but Jacob was now in the midst of his troubles, and was having a hard time.

From Project Gutenberg

But it came to pass on the day before the wedding that all men knew thereof in stern truth, and that was a hard time for many.

From Project Gutenberg

Percy's regiment, the Scots Greys, are in the trenches at present having a hard time.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admonition
• censure
• condemnation
• disapproval
• punishment
• rebuff
• reproach
• snub