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Glite Dictionary
to give someone a hard time

to give someone a hard time

90 3.9
Make someone feel bad by criticizing or teasing them
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : hacerle la vida imposible a alguien
  • I always feel stressed when my boss gives me a hard time about deadlines.
  • give someone a hard time
  • give someone a hard time

Examples

  • But he understood and, without giving me a hard time, immediately leveled off.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Please don't give me a hard time about it, OK?

    No Looking Back (1998)

  • Why are you giving me such a hard time?

    Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

  • The press is still giving you a hard time.

    Mortal Kombat (1995)

  • If I had it to do again, I would never have given you a hard time even once.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • "Harry, I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time," she said finally.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Oh sure, Gates had been giving her a hard time, but no more than usual.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Why do you think Jared was giving Mark such a hard time?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I don't know why you're giving him such a hard time.

    What Happens Later (2023)

  • But then Rona said, "So is Garth still giving you a hard time?"

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

to push around
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
66 5.6

To treat someone in a bossy way so they do what you want

is less about power and more about causing difficulty through teasing or criticism
to let him have it
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
44 8.1

To tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

can instead include milder teasing or repeated annoyance rather than sharp scolding
to give someone hell
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
37 8.1

To scold someone very strongly for something they did

can instead be done with teasing, nagging, or persistent criticism
to get under one's skin
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
25 7.2

To annoy someone again and again so they feel bothered

is more intentional and may include direct criticism or teasing
to let someone have it
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
11 8.1

To angrily tell someone off

is broader, also covering teasing, nagging, or deliberate difficulty
to harsh on
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
7 5.8

Criticize someone in a very unkind way

can be milder or more teasing, not always as severe or hostile
to give someone the business
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
5 8.3

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is broader, covering milder, deliberate unpleasantness such as teasing
to get under someone's skin
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
4 7.4

To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does

is more active, often aiming to make situations unpleasant or challenging
to push someone's buttons
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
1 7.1

To do or say something on purpose to annoy someone

is broader, also including nagging or criticizing to cause difficulty
to give hell
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
1 8.1

To scold or punish someone angrily for something they did wrong

is similar but also includes milder forms like teasing or nagging
to rag
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
1 7.2

To tease someone repeatedly, either playfully or cruelly

is like this but often covers milder teasing and plain criticism
to give someone what for
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
1 8.7

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is often less angry and may use teasing or nagging to cause trouble
to give someone the shits
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To make someone very annoyed or angry

is similar but may include milder teasing or repeated nagging
to bust someone's chops
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
1 9.0

To tease or nag someone, often in a playful way

is similar but can also include harsher criticism or troublemaking
to give (someone) the shits
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To make someone very angry or upset

is comparable but can also mean making things difficult without anger
to break someone's chops
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Archaic
8.7

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

is similar but may be more deliberately unpleasant or critical
to give grief
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
6.9

To cause someone trouble or make them upset

is similar but more often intentional and focused on criticism or teasing
to give the shits
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Offensive
9.9

To make someone feel worried, angry, or very annoyed

is like this but often involves teasing or persistent criticism instead of anxiety
to get on someone's grill
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Slang
9.9

To tell someone angrily that you do not like what they did

is less confrontational and can be teasing, nagging, or critical
to give what-for
vsto give someone a hard time
  • Informal
9.5

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is broader and can be done playfully or by repeated criticism

Antonyms

help
∞ 1.0

An act that makes something easier for someone

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

How Harsh

to torment
  • NSFW
107 7.2
to harass
302 4.0
to give someone a hard time
  • Informal
90 3.9
to criticize
701 3.3
to bother
∞ 1.0
to tease
245 1.9

Surface Forms

give someone a hard time infinitive
gave someone a hard time past
given someone a hard time past participle
giving someone a hard time present participle
gives someone a hard time third person singular

Morphology

give + someone + a + hard + time

The phrase literally combines 'give' + 'hard' + 'time', so a learner who knows the words can infer a general meaning of causing someone a difficult or unpleasant period. However, the specific pragmatic nuances (teasing, criticizing, deliberately making things unpleasant) are somewhat idiomatic and not fully predictable from the parts, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

Give someone a hard time may come from the image of giving a person a hard time — a period when life feels heavy because they are given tough tasks, scolding, or punishment. So it means 'to make things difficult or unpleasant for someone'.