the school of hard knocks
/ðə ˌskuːl əv ˌhɑːd ˈnɒks/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
learning from difficult experiences in life rather than from lessons
Examples
- 1My grandfather started work at fourteen and learnt everything in the school of hard knocks.
- 2She has no business degree; she's a graduate of the school of hard knocks.
- 3Ben learnt about business in the school of hard knocks, after three of his shops closed.
- 4Nobody taught Aisha how to run a restaurant; everything she knows comes from the school of hard knocks.
- 5Can the school of hard knocks really prepare you for a career better than a degree?
Grammar
Used with the, often after in or from, or in a graduate of the school of hard knocks. knocks stays plural.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about education
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →hit the booksto start studying seriously, especially before examsget the hang ofto learn how to do something that is not simple at firstit's not rocket scienceit is easy to understand or dothe penny dropssomeone finally understands something after a whilea crash coursea short period of lessons that teaches a lot very quicklyrack your brainsto think very hard to remember or solve something
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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