Meaning of find out the hard way | Babel Free

Definitions

To acquire knowledge through failure or any other undesirable experience.

Examples

“I don't know how well seatbelts protect you, but I certainly don't want to find out the hard way, so I use them either way.”

“You can't assume that someone else will call an ambulance. I learnt that the hard way after crashing my bike.”

CEFR level