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

However, Republicans might have a hard time pushing extreme student loan bills through, according to Kantrowitz, because they don’t have a supermajority in the Senate.

From Salon

“I have a hard time believing that you could hold up some sort of merger because of what ’60 Minutes’ did in one broadcast over one interview,” McCall said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the impending birth of his son, and the opportunity to serve as an example of persevering through hard times, factored into his decision to return.

From Los Angeles Times

His warm smile gave no hint of the hard times he faced in Miami’s rough Liberty City neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times, pretended to be French Queen and tricked a cardinal into giving her the necklace, without paying.

From BBC

Related Words

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