hard knocks
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most of us learn this by about third grade, when parents and hard knocks teach us how to figure out whom you can trust, and who will eat you for lunch.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2025
"Everyone loved her. I grew up with Tina Turner and she was a great woman to me, with a lot of sorrow too due to life's hard knocks but absolutely someone we could admire."
From Reuters • May 25, 2023
Australian rugby league in the early 1990s was an unforgiving school of hard knocks, tough men and scant sympathy.
From BBC • Feb. 2, 2023
She competed in the men’s category that night, and lost her helmet from all the hard knocks but placed seventh out of more than 60 cars.
From New York Times • Oct. 3, 2022
Shasta cried only a very little; he was used to hard knocks.
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
