hard-put

[ hahrd-poot ]

adjective

1. hard ( def 57 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard-put¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

There’s a compare-and-contrast element to their individual stories, underscored by frequent cross-cutting, though one would be hard put to pull any great meaning from the juxtapositions.

From Los Angeles Times

Though you would be hard put to get an admissions officer to confirm it, there have been reports that suggest that male students have an easier time getting into college.

From New York Times

Russians consider this an ancient patrimony of Russia, and any Russian government would be hard put to give the peninsula back to Ukraine.

From Salon

As acts of voter intimidation go, after all, one would be hard put to top greeting would-be voters with firearms.

From Seattle Times

Russia will be hard put to run its production lines, military and civilian, without Western semiconductors — and it has seen a 90 percent drop in chip imports.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• constrained
• labored
• stiff
• tense
• tight
• uneasy