| 释义 |
the hard way
the hard way1. Personal experience that is difficult, painful, or unpleasant, especially as teaches or strengthens someone. Starting your own business is really tough. I had to learn that the hard way.2. The most challenging or difficult means (of doing something). He insists on doing his taxes by hand every year, rather than hiring an accountant or using software to make it easier—he always has to do things the hard way.See also: hard, wayhard way, theBy bad or difficult experiences; also, by one's own efforts. For example, Bill found out the hard way that interest on his credit-card debt can mount up fast, or No one can teach you how-you'll just have to learn it the hard way. This expression comes from shooting craps (a dice game), where it refers to making an even-numbered point such as six by throwing doubles (two three's). Since there are more unmatching combinations that can produce the same number (four and two, five and one), the odds against throwing doubles are higher, hence the difficulty. [Early 1900s] See also: hardthe hard way through suffering or learning from the unpleasant consequences of mistakes. 1996 Nozipo Maraire Zenzele I think she understands better than the rest of us that we are at heart one family, for she has had to learn the hard way. See also: hard, waythe hard wayThe most difficult method or path. This term comes from the game of craps, where it means making two dice come up with a pair of equal numbers totaling the point. For example, if eight is the point to be made, the hard way calls for rolling two fours; neither five-three nor six-two will do. Since the chances of rolling two fours are much less than the other combinations, this way is “hard.” The term then was extended to such phrases as “learn something the hard way,” meaning to learn through bitter experience, and “come up the hard way,” meaning to rise by one’s own efforts.See also: hard, way |