Phrase guide

give someone a hard time

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause difficulty or make trouble for someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • During WWII, German troops gave the Allies a hard time in Italy, but eventually the Allies broke through.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To tease, kid or rib someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • He's usually pretty good-natured when the children give him a hard time about his bald spot.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 給......帶來麻煩 /给......带来麻烦 (gěi... dàilái máfan) — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 為難 /为难 (wéinán) — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Finnish: pitää kovilla — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Polish: przysparzać kłopotów — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Polish: przysporzyć kłopotów — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Romanian: îi da cuiva bătăi de cap — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Romanian: da de furcă cuiva — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Romanian: face cuiva zile fripte — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Russian: усложнять кому-либо жизнь (usložnjatʹ komu-libo žiznʹ) — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Russian: приставать (pristavatʹ) — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Russian: доставать (dostavatʹ) — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Spanish: hacérselo pasar mal a alguien — cause difficulty or make trouble for someone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 戲弄 /戏弄 (xìnòng) — tease, kid or rib someone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 取笑 (qǔxiào) — tease, kid or rib someone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 欺負 /欺负 (qīfù) — tease, kid or rib someone
  • Finnish: kiusoitella — tease, kid or rib someone
  • Polish: besztać — tease, kid or rib someone
  • Polish: zbesztać — tease, kid or rib someone