do (something) the hard way
To do something by using the most challenging method, or at least not the easiest method. Of course he crawled in though the window instead of just opening the unlocked back door—he has to do everything the hard way. I advised him to start his report days ago, but no, he has to do everything the hard way. If you want to do it the hard way and cross four lanes of traffic, be my guest. It's not what I would do.
learn (something) the hard way
To learn or discover something through personal experience, especially that which is difficult, painful, or unpleasant. Starting your own business is really tough. I had to learn that the hard way. Everyone will tell you that becoming a parent is challenging, but you never really know what that means until you learn about it the hard way.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
do something the hard way
to accomplish something in the most difficult manner, rather than by an easier way. I made it to this job the hard way. I came up through the ranks. She did it the hard way. She had no help from her parents.
learn (something) the hard way
and find (something) out the hard wayto learn something by experience, especially by an unpleasant experience. (As opposed to learning in school, from reading, etc.) She learned how to make investments the hard way. I wish I didn't have to learn things the hard way. I found out the hard way that it's difficult to work and go to school at the same time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
do something the hard way
COMMON If you do something the hard way, you have difficulty doing it or it is unpleasant for you to do it, often as a result of your own actions or decisions. Anything I've achieved has been done the hard way, through a lot of hard work. Ms Lomax, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
do/learn something the ˈhard way
learn something from experience, especially when this is unpleasant: I learned the hard way not to trust door-to-door salesmen. ♢ Why do you always do everything the hard way?Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017