hard
/hɑ:d/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Firm, solid, and resistant to pressure: Not easily broken, bent, or pierced.
- Difficult to do or understand: Requiring a lot of physical or mental effort.
- Severe, harsh, or strict: Unpleasant, demanding, or showing no sympathy.
- Strong or intense: Having great force, degree, or alcoholic content.
- Based on clear facts or evidence: Real and undeniable.
- (Of water) Containing mineral salts: Preventing soap from lathering easily.
- (Of a consonant) Pronounced with a guttural sound: Such as 'c' in 'cat' versus 'c' in 'city'.
Adverb:
- With great effort or energy: Using a lot of force or determination.
- Intensely or to a great degree: Strongly, heavily, or severely.
- Firmly or securely: In a tight or fixed manner.
- With difficulty or pain: In a way that causes suffering or struggle.
- Closely or immediately: Near in time or space.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The ground was frozen hard. (The ground was very solid due to ice.)
- This is a hard question to answer. (This question is difficult.)
- He has a hard expression on his face. (His facial expression is severe and unfriendly.)
- She prefers hard cider. (She prefers cider with a high alcohol content.)
- We need hard data to support our claim. (We need solid, factual evidence.)
- The hard water leaves stains on the glass. (The mineral-rich water causes deposits.)
Adverb:
- He worked hard all day. (He worked with great effort and energy.)
- It was raining hard. (It was raining very heavily.)
- Hold on hard to the railing. (Hold the railing very firmly.)
- Prejudices die hard. (Deeply held prejudices are difficult to eliminate.)
- The factory closed, and the news followed hard upon the announcement of losses. (The closure happened very soon after the loss announcement.)
Advanced Usage
"Hard and fast": Strict and not to be changed.
- There are no hard and fast rules for creativity. (There are no strict, inflexible rules.)
"Hard to come by": Difficult to find or obtain.
- Tickets for the concert were hard to come by. (The tickets were very scarce.)
"Hard on someone/something": Treating someone severely or causing wear.
- Don't be too hard on yourself. (Don't criticize yourself too severely.)
- Running on pavement is hard on your knees. (It causes stress and damage to your knees.)
Variants and Related Words
- Harden (verb): To make or become hard.
- The clay will harden in the sun.
- Hardness (noun): The quality of being hard.
- They tested the hardness of the metal.
- Hardy (adjective): Robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions.
- These plants are hardy and survive the winter.
Synonyms
- Adjective (solid): Solid, firm, rigid.
- Adjective (difficult): Difficult, challenging, arduous, tough.
- Adjective (severe): Severe, harsh, strict, stern.
- Adverb (with effort): Diligently, energetically, strenuously.
- Adverb (intensely): Heavily, intensely, strongly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Hardly ever: Very rarely.
- She hardly ever goes to the cinema. (She very rarely goes.)
- Hard up (for something): Lacking money or a particular thing.
- I'm a bit hard up at the moment. (I'm short of money currently.)
- The team is hard up for new ideas. (The team lacks new ideas.)
Related Idioms
- A hard nut to crack: A difficult problem or person to deal with.
- This math equation is a hard nut to crack.
- Between a rock and a hard place: Faced with two equally difficult choices.
- I'm between a rock and a hard place; both options are bad.
- Play hard to get: To pretend to be uninterested in someone romantically.
- He thinks she's playing hard to get.
Adjective
- dried out
- hard dry rolls left over from the day before
- unfortunate or hard to bear
- had hard luck
- a tough break
- being distilled rather than fermented; having a high alcoholic content
- hard liquor
- given to excessive indulgence of bodily appetites especially for intoxicating liquors
- a hard drinker
- (of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward or touching the velum
- Russian distinguished between hard consonants and palatalized or soft consonants
- (of light) transmitted directly from a pointed light source
- produced without vibration of the vocal cords
- unvoiced consonants such as `p' and `k' and `s'
- characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
- worked their arduous way up the mining valley
- a grueling campaign
- hard labor
- heavy work
- heavy going
- spent many laborious hours on the project
- set a punishing pace
- very strong or vigorous
- strong winds
- a hard left to the chin
- a knockout punch
- a severe blow
- resisting weight or pressure
- dispassionate;
- took a hard look
- a hard bargainer
- not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
- a difficult task
- nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
- difficult times
- why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?
Adverb
- to the full extent possible; all the way
- hard alee
- the ship went hard astern
- swung the wheel hard left
- with pain or distress or bitterness
- he took the rejection very hard
- very near or close in space or time
- it stands hard by the railroad tracks
- they were hard on his heels
- a strike followed hard upon the plant's opening
- into a solid condition
- concrete that sets hard within a few hours
- indulging excessively
- he drank heavily
- slowly and with difficulty
- prejudices die hard
- causing great damage or hardship
- industries hit hard by the depression
- she was severely affected by the bank's failure
- earnestly or intently
- thought hard about it
- stared hard at the accused
- with firmness
- held hard to the railing
- with effort or force or vigor
- the team played hard
- worked hard all day
- pressed hard on the lever
- hit the ball hard
- slammed the door hard