hard done-by

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hard done-by

Mistreated or abused; cheated; dejected. Often preceded by "feel." The company paid Steve a generous severance package after firing him, but he still claims he was hard done-by. I don't think you have a right to feel hard done-by since you received the same level of assessment as everyone else!
See also: hard
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hard done by

BRITISH
COMMON If you are hard done by, you have been treated unfairly. Those who felt hard done by made their dissatisfaction clear. He really felt they'd been hard done by, and he would have liked to help them. Note: You can use hard-done-by before a noun to describe someone who has been treated unfairly. Sibley plays the role of the hard-done-by husband.
See also: by, done, hard
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
See also:
References in periodicals archive ?
WELL, yes, I suppose it's nasty to laugh at the hard done-by, but those fans of reality star Scott Dislick (never heard of him but gather he has Karshadian connections) court leg-pulling.
Taking a Dislick to idol's fans
The Baggies were certainly hard done-by at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were awarded an equalising 94th-minute penalty for a tumble by Ramires (above).
Football can't fall for DRS nonsense
"We definitely feel hard done-by," said the Crewe boss.
BOURNEMOUTH 3 CREWE 1 STEVE [...]
It might also be an idea for prison inspectors to consider victims when they make comments about prisoners being hard done-by. The lives of many innocent people are ruined by the actions of offenders, and it should be remembered that no one forced them to break the law.
Letter: Your view - Help victims
I'm devastated for the lads and we feel hard done-by. We started really well but goals change games and Millwall upped theirs after they scored and took it to us.
McCarthy's verdict
WHAT on earth do all these poor, hard done-by soccer prima donnas think they have to strike about?
Strike for what?
But I thought we were hard done-by and had plenty of opportunities to win."
FOOTBALL: GLOOMY COPPELL AT POINT OF NO RETURN; Crystal Palace 0 Bolton 0
Perhaps Bruce would like to venture an opinion as to why his so hard done-by team has such a blunt strikeforce and secured only one victory in their last 18 Premier away games.
Letter: Your Shout - ANOTHER weekend passes; IN ASSOCIATION WITH super soccer
This was not a devastating defeat, merely a setback, and Newcastle fans should not feel hard done-by. Bring on the next game.
Journal Jury
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