hard knocks

plural noun

: rough, unsparing treatment (as in use or in life)

Commercial-strength squares—baked clay, ceramic, vinyl or rubber stand up to hard knocks at home.

—Apartment Life

especially : difficult or painful experiences or circumstances

This is a testimonial, above all, of hard knocks, from a mother's absence and a family's sacrifice to care for his older, tubercular brother to the betrayal by White House patrons and staff.

—Roger Morris

—often used in the phrase school of hard knocks

Romances with men are the curriculum you'll need to determine what's right for you and what isn't. I'd prefer if you'd learn quickly and easily, rather than at the school of hard knocks.

—Dave Singleton

Examples of hard knocks in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

News cycles this year have been a relentless parade of hard knocks, and April has been no exception. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Again Choinière, who endured a few hard knocks in the first half, struck a terrific pass for his second assist of the evening. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026

Regardless, there’s no excuse — even in hard knocks politics — for attacking someone because of his disability. —George Skelton, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026

Regardless, there’s no excuse — even in hard knocks politics — for attacking someone because of his disability. —Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1758, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard knocks

• botox
• checkbox
• comox
• cornstalks
• cowpox
• crosswalks
• deadlocks
• detox
• feedstocks
• firebox
• gearbox
• hemlocks