be hard on
To be strict or critical with another; be severe.
"Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to rebel as he gets older."
between a rock and a hard place
between the devil and the deep blue sea
Between two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do.
Между двух опасностей или трудностей, в состоянии когда неизвестно что предпринять.
The pirates had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I couldn't make up my mind. I was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Я не мог ничего решить. Я угодил между молотом и наковальней.
The boy was between a rock and a hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night and be picked up by the police.
Мальчик находился между двух огней – он должен был либо пойти домой и быть выпоротым, либо остаться в городе на всю ночь и быть пойманным полицией.
I’m between a rock and a hard place with management. They are determined to jettison a lot of hard-working employees.
between two fires
between a rock and a hard place
Between two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do.
The boy was between a rock and a hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night and be picked up by the police.
When the man's wife and her mother got together, he was between two fires.
cold cash
hard cash
Money that is paid at the time of purchase; real money; silver and bills.
Наличные; реальные деньги в кошельке; монеты и купюры.
Mr. Jones bought a new car and paid cold cash for it.
Some stores sell things only for cold cash.
I don’t have a card, so I paid for everything in hard cash.
У меня нет кредитки, поэтому я за все плачу наличными.
come down hard on
To scold or punish strongly.
The principal came down hard on the boys for breaking the window.
To oppose strongly.
The minister in his sermon came down hard on drinking.
drive a bargain
drive a hard bargain
To buy or sell at a good price; succeed in a trade or deal.
Tom's collie is a champion; it should be easy for Tom to drive a bargain when he sells her puppies.
Father drove a hard bargain with the real estate agent when we bought our new house.
To make an agreement that is better for you than for the other person; make an agreement to your advantage.
The French drove a hard bargain in demanding that Germany pay fully for World War I damages.
find out the hard way
learn the hard way
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.
The challenger found out the hard way that the champion's left hand had to be avoided.
give a hard time
To give trouble by what you do or say; complain.
Jane gave her mother a hard time on the bus by fighting with her sister and screaming.
Don't give me a hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job.
To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid.
Don't give me a hard time, boys. I'm trying to study.