school of hard knocks
Experience as teacher
The school of hard knocks is life experience gained through hardship, failure, and practical struggle rather than formal education.
Someone who attended the school of hard knocks learned through adversity: He never went to college—he's a graduate of the school of hard knocks.
The phrase often carries a note of pride in self-made resilience.
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
endurance · toughness · survival · strength · courage · backbone · mettle · steadfastness
Practical wisdom from experience
- practical knowledgeSkill gained through experience
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- hands-on learningEducation via direct participation
trial and error · informal education · learning curve · self-reliance · resourcefulness · ingenuity · initiative · observation
Reversals of progress
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
- tribulationsCauses of great distress
obstacles · challenges · ordeals · suffering · difficulty · disappointment · failure · defeat
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
fortitude · endurance · toughness · survival · strength · courage · backbone · mettle · steadfastness · stamina
life lessons
Practical wisdom from experience
- practical knowledgeSkill gained through experience
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
hands-on learning · trial and error · informal education · learning curve · self-reliance · resourcefulness · ingenuity · initiative · observation · apprenticeship
setbacks
Reversals of progress
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
tribulations · obstacles · challenges · ordeals · suffering · difficulty · disappointment · failure · defeat · heartache
- hardshipsadversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties, ordeal
- life lessonslesson learned, moral, lessons learned, life lessons, parable
- learninglearning, learn, classes, instruction, studying
- learning processbeginner stage, trial and error, learn by doing, orientation, onboarding
- ordealsordeal, trial by ordeal, ordeal by fire, ordeal by water, tribulation
school of hard knocksformal education
Systematic study in institutions
private school · higher education · Ivy League · boarding school · ivory tower
school of hard knockssilver spoon
Symbol of inherited wealth
privileged upbringing · easy street · charmed life · gilded cage · lap of luxury
school, schools, schooled, schooling, scholar, scholarly, scholarship, scholastic, harden