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hard knocks

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.06 sec.
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.)
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.hard knocks - a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship"
adversity, 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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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The first writers of the Arthur story had made a great deal of manly strength: it was often little more than a tale of hard knocks given and taken.
English Literature For Boys And Girls by Marshall, H.E. View in context
Vincent, Wolfe and Moore, Nelson and Wellington, they have carried their lives in their hands, getting hard knocks and hard work in plenty--which was on the whole what they looked for, and the best thing for them--and little praise or pudding, which indeed they, and most of us, are better without.
Tom Brown's Schooldays by Hughes, Thomas View in context
With these threats he clenched his hand again, and dexterously diving in betwen the elbows and catching the boy's head as it dodged from side to side, gave it three or four good hard knocks.
The Old Curiosity Shop by Dickens, Charles View in context
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