hard way
No shortcuts taken
The hard way is through difficulty, pain, or unpleasant experience rather than by easier means.
To learn something the hard way is to discover it through failure or suffering rather than instruction: She found out the hard way that you can't trust everyone.
The phrase implies the lesson sticks precisely because it cost something.
Severe difficulty or suffering
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- tribulationState of great distress
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
suffering · battle · challenge · obstacle · setback · pain · sacrifice · burden
Firmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
fortitude · steadfastness · willpower · discipline · commitment · dedication · stamina · patience
Practical knowledge from life
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- failureLack of success
- lessonUnit of teaching
- trial and errorLearning through repeated attempts
hindsight · wisdom · consequences · realization · humbling · wake-up call · rude awakening · teachable moment
Enhancing oneself deliberately
- character buildingDeveloping moral strength
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- transformationThorough change in form
merit · accomplishment · personal development · coming of age · rite of passage · tempering · forging
adversity
Severe difficulty or suffering
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- tribulationState of great distress
- ordealDifficult, painful experience
toil · suffering · battle · challenge · obstacle · setback · pain · sacrifice · burden · strain
determination
Firmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
endurance · fortitude · steadfastness · willpower · discipline · commitment · dedication · stamina · patience · resolve
experience
Practical knowledge from life
trial and error · hindsight · wisdom · consequences · realization · humbling · wake-up call · rude awakening · teachable moment · live and learn
self-improvement
Enhancing oneself deliberately
- character buildingDeveloping moral strength
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- breakthroughSudden important advance
transformation · merit · accomplishment · personal development · coming of age · rite of passage · tempering · forging
- hardshipsadversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties, ordeal
- gamblinggamble, gambling, casinos, casino, bets
- consequencesconsequence, consequences, result, results, effect
- dicedice, d6, d20, d10, roll
hard wayeasy way
easy way out · path of least resistance · smooth sailing · quick fix · cakewalk
hard wayshortcut
Quicker alternative path
direct route · fast track · straight path · beeline · direct approach
hard, way, harden, hardship, hardened, hardcover, hardships, hardtack, hardhearted