through the mill

Idioms and Phrases

Hardship or rough treatment, as in They put him through the mill, making him work at every one of the machines , or Jane was exhausted; she felt she'd been through the mill . This term alludes to being ground down like grain in a mill. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

His tone was that of a man who had been through the mill.

From BBC

“I hope the finding brings some comfort to them because they’ve all been through the mill and back,” she added.

From Seattle Times

Ferrari have put Charles Leclerc through the mill in the past few years - and at times vice versa, too, it has to be said - but the driver some in Formula 1 believe to be the fastest of all over one lap says his commitment to a future with the Italian team is absolute.

From BBC

You look at him celebrating now with his wife and sons and you know that he went through the mill to get to where he is today.

From BBC

It will take six weeks for Caltrans to reopen the roadway through the Mill Creek area.

From Los Angeles Times