Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

school of hard knocks

Definition

If you learn something in the school of hard knocks, you learn it as a result of difficult or unpleasant experiences.Knowing and learning
(Definition of school of hard knocks from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

bogus

false, not real or not legal

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More