- hard
- hard1 [ hard ] adjective ***▸ 1 firm & not easy to break▸ 2 difficult to do▸ 3 full of problems▸ 4 strong & not frightened▸ 5 unkind/cruel▸ 6 with much physical force▸ 7 about water▸ 8 winter/frost: severe▸ 9 facts, etc.: can be proved▸ + PHRASES1. ) stiff, firm, and not easy to bend or break:hard wooden benchesThe plastic was chosen because it is very hard and durable.2. ) difficult to do:Some of the questions were very hard.hard for someone to do something: It is hard for young people to get jobs in this area.hard to do something: It's hard to explain why I love this place so much.find something hard: I found the English test extremely hard.hard to believe: I find it hard to believe that we're leaving the South for good.a ) involving a great deal of effort:Lifting stones this size is pretty hard work.I need to relax at the end of a hard day.3. ) unpleasant and full of problems:My grandmother had a very hard life.The family has had a hard time recently.hard on: It's very hard on parents when their children are rebellious.4. ) strong and not easily frightened:He likes to pretend he's hard, but he's really soft underneath.5. ) unkind or cruel:She was deeply hurt by his hard words.hard on: Don't be too hard on her, she was only trying to help.6. ) using a great deal of physical force:He gave the door a hard shove, and it opened.7. ) hard water does not mix easily with soap because it contains a lot of MINERALS8. ) a hard winter is a very cold wintera ) a hard FROST is very severe9. ) only before noun hard facts are certain and can be proved:We need some hard evidence to support our claim.as hard as nails INFORMALtending not to feel sympathy or other positive emotionsbe hard on something INFORMALto cause damage to something:Aerobics is hard on the knees.do something the hard wayto have a bad experience doing something, often when this is your own faultgive someone a hard time INFORMALto be unpleasant to someone or criticize them a lothard at it INFORMALdoing something in a fast busy wayhard at workworking with a lot of efforthard going INFORMALvery difficult and needing a lot of efforthard luck BRITISH SPOKEN1. ) used for saying that you feel sympathy for someone because something bad has happened to them2. ) used for saying that you do not feel any sympathy about something bad that has happened to someonehard right/lefta turn directly to the right or left:Take a hard right just after the motel.hard to come by INFORMALdifficult to find or get:Large cars can be hard to come by overseas.hard to take/swallowdifficult to accept or deal with:His bad moods are hard to take at times.learn the hard wayto learn how to do something by trying to do it and making a lot of mistakesno hard feelings SPOKENused for telling someone that you are not angry with them after an argument or disagreementtake a hard lineto deal with something in a very firm or strict way and refuse to change your opinion or decision:The government is taking a hard line on tax evasion.hardhard 2 [ hard ] adverb ***1. ) using a lot of effort:The Chinese team have worked very hard to get this far in the competition.Our people fought hard to gain independence.I was trying very hard to remember her name.a ) using a great deal of force:She pressed her face hard against the glass.You need to push harder.I didn't mean to hit him so hard.b ) if you look, listen, or think hard, you do it carefully with your full attention:I had to think hard before coming up with the right answer.2. ) if it rains or snows hard, a great deal of rain or snow fallsbe/feel hard done byto be treated in an unfair way, or feel as if you have been treated in an unfair waybe hard put/pressed/pushed to do somethingto find it very difficult to do something:I think the Republicans will be hard pressed to gain support.be hard hit/hit hardto be very badly affected by something:Small businesses in particular were hard hit by the recession.hard on someone's heelsfollowing close behind someonehard on the heels of somethinghappening very soon after something:This disaster comes hard on the heels of last week's train crash.take something hardto be very upset by something:He took it very hard when his wife died last year.=> PLAY1
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.