give a hard time

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give somebody a hard time

1. (informal) to criticize someone and make them feel guilty about something that they have done (often + about ) I came home late one night last week and she's been giving me a hard time about it ever since.

2. to treat someone severely or to cause difficulties for them She'd always wanted to be a teacher, but those kids gave her a really hard time.

See also: give, hard, time

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There’s sloops on the river, boy, that would give a hard time on’t to the stoutest vessel King George owns. The Pioneers by Cooper, James Fenimore View in context			gill gird gird loins gird up loins girl git give give a bad name give a bang give a bawling out give a bell give a blank check give a blank look give a bloody nose give a break give a buzz give a damn give a dig give a dirty look Give a dog a bad name give a dose of own medicine give a fair crack of the whip give a free hand give a good account of oneself give a hand give a hard time give a heads up give a leg up give a lick and a promise give a lift give a line give a little give a miss give a monkey's give a new lease of life give a once-over give a pain give a piece of mind give a red face give a ring give a rocket give a rough time give a run for money give a shit give a shot give a thick ear give a tinker's cuss give a tinkle give a try give a whirl give a wide berth			give a fit give a fit give a fit Give A Flip Give A Flying Flip give a formal hearing to give a formal speech give a free hand give a go give a good account of (oneself) give a good account of (oneself) give a good account of oneself give a good account of oneself give a good account of oneself give a good account of oneself give a good account of oneself give a good account of oneself give a good run for their money give a good run for their money give a good run for their money give a good run for their money give a grant to give a guarantee give a guilty verdict give a hand give a hand give a hand give a hand give a hand give a hang give a hard time give a heads up give a hoot give a hoot give a job give a job to give a judicial hearing to give a kick give a leg up give a lesson give a lick and a promise Give a Life Foundation give a lift give a line give a little give a man enough rope and he will hang himself give a man enough rope and he will hang himself give a man enough rope and he will hang himself give a man plenty of rope and he will hang himself give a man plenty of rope and he will hang himself give a man plenty of rope and he will hang himself give a mandate give a miss give a miss give a miss give a miss give a monkey's give a mouthful give a name give a new form to give a new lease of life

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