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Idioms

give someone a hard time

This page is about the idiom give someone a hard time

Meaning

If you give someone a hard time, you bother them or make trouble for them.

For example

  • Some of the boys at Kenny's school started giving him a hard time and then said they wouldn't stop unless he gave them money every day.

  • My wife's been giving me a hard time ever since I forgot our anniversary.

Quick Quiz

The Manchester City fans gave their players a hard time because they had

a. won their last five games

b. lost their last five games

c. found a way to beat most other teams
a) won their last five games b) lost their last five games c) found a way to beat most other teams

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey