H

[hard luck]

See:

[TOUGH LUCK].

[hard nut to crack] also [tough nut to crack]  {n. phr.},  {informal}

Something difficult to understand or to do.

Tom's algebra lesson was a hard nut to crack.

Mary found knitting a hard nut to crack.

Compare: [HARD ROW TO HOE].

[hard of hearing]  {adj.}

Partially deaf.

[hard put] or [hard put to it]  {adj.}

In a difficult position; faced with difficulty; barely able.

John was hard put to find a good excuse for his lateness in coming to school.

[hard row to hoe] or [tough row to hoe]  {n. phr.}

A hard life to live; a very hard job to do.

She has a hard row to hoe with six children and her husband dead.

* /Young people without enough education will have a tough row to hoe when they have to  […]

[hard sell]  {n.},  {informal}

A kind of salesmanship characterized by great vigor, aggressive persuasion, and great eagerness on the part of the person selling something; opposed to "soft sell".

* /Your hard sell turns off a lot of people; try the soft  […]

[hard sledding] or [rough sledding] or [tough sledding]  {n.},  {informal}

Difficulty in succeeding or making progress.

Jane had hard sledding in her math course because she was poorly prepared.

* /When Mr. Smith started his new business, he had  […]

[hard up]  {adj.},  {informal}

Without enough money or some other needed thing.

Dick was hard up and asked Lou to lend him a dollar.

The campers were hard up for water because their well had run dry.

Compare: [UP AGAINST IT].

[hard way]  {n.}

The harder or more punishing of two or more ways to solve a problem, do something, or learn something. — Used with "the".

The mayor refused the help of the crooks and won the election the hard way by going out to meet the people.

*  […]

[hard-and-fast]  {adj.}

Not to be broken or changed; fixed; strict.