be hard done-by

be hard done-by

To be mistreated or cheated or to be dejected as a result of such mistreatment. The company paid Steve a generous severance package after firing him, but he still claims he was hard done-by. Now that I know I received the same level of assessment as everyone else, I guess I wasn't hard done-by after all. Don't mind that crochety old man—no matter how much you try to help him, he always thinks he was hard done-by.

See also: hard

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be/feel hard ˈdone by

(informal) be/feel unfairly treated: I think you’ve been hard done by — you worked twice as long as anyone else.

See also: by, done, feel, hard

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017