idiom (v) · neutral
learn the hard way
UK/lɜːn ðə hɑːd weɪ/US/lɝn ðə hɑrd weɪ/LEARN·the·HARD·WAY
to gain knowledge or understanding from an unpleasant experience or mistake
Examples
“He learned the hard way that cramming the night before doesn't work for him.”
“Many entrepreneurs learn the hard way through failed projects.”
“I learned the hard way to back up my files after losing months of work.”
Band 8 sentence
“After missing several deadlines and losing a client, he learned the hard way the importance of time management.”
Collocations
- learn the hard way that ...
- learn something the hard way
Word family
Common mistakes
learn by hard way→learn the hard way
Say it for a higher band
5learn from mistakes→6learn the lesson→7+learn the hard way
Synonyms
learn from mistakes
gain experience painfully
Easily confused
learn from mistakes
“She learned from her mistakes and improved her presentation skills.”
Related words
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In Study
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