idiom · neutral
go through the mill
UK/ɡəʊ θruː ðə mɪl/US/ɡoʊ θru ðə mɪl/go·through·the·MILL
to experience severe difficulties or harsh treatment
Examples
“He went through the mill during his apprenticeship.”
“Families in the flood zone have gone through the mill this year.”
“She felt she had gone through the mill after the long court case.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many refugees have gone through the mill, facing violence, displacement and long waits for official support.”
Collocations
- go through the mill
- have gone through the mill
Word family
Common mistakes
go through mill→go through the mill
have went through the mill→have gone through the mill
Say it for a higher band
5suffer hardship→6go through hardship→7+go through the mill
Synonyms
go through hardship
be put through the wringer
Easily confused
be put through the wringer
“After the scandal she was really put through the wringer by the media.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Hardship
Learn it with its set