did time
Was behind bars
Did time means served a prison sentence.
The phrase treats incarceration as time that must be endured or worked through: He did time for armed robbery.
Someone who did hard time served in a particularly harsh facility or under difficult conditions.
- incarceratedConfined in prison
- sentencedGiven punishment legally
- inmateConfined facility resident
- cell blockPrison housing unit
- prison yardInmates' outdoor recreation area
ex-convict · served · prisoner · detained · jailed · parole · locked up · second chance · criminal record · confined · custodial · penalized · stereotype · discrimination · penitentiary · halfway house · got out · redemption