hard knock
Tough life experience
A hard knock is a harsh experience or setback that teaches through difficulty rather than kindness.
Usually plural: the school of hard knocks is life experience gained through adversity rather than formal education.
She learned about money from hard knocks, not textbooks.
A hard-knock life is one marked by poverty, struggle, or repeated misfortune.
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- tough breakUnfortunate turn of events
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- setbackReverse in progress
fortitude · grit · trial · determination · misfortune · slam · tough love · wisdom · perseverance · adversity · growth · punch · baptism by fire · trial by fire · thud · uphill battle · smack · obstacle
- discouragementdiscouragement, dejection, defeatism, disappointment, letdown
hard knocksoft landing
Controlled, gradual descent
smooth sailing · privileged upbringing · comfort · luxury · ease
hard knocklucky break
Unforeseen favorable occurrence
blessing · stroke of luck · windfall · good fortune · godsend
hard, knock, harder, hardest, harden, hardened, hardening, hardness, hardy