Meaning of hard word | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An unkind word or comment; an insult.
   in-plural
2. A word which is difficult to understand or spell.
   literally
3. A tip-off, or piece of inside information; a password.
   Australia, Ireland
4. A persistent or rude request, especially for money.
   Australia, New-Zealand, UK, colloquial

Examples

“He would send the hard word round the country about me and my leman.”

“[…] but, I don't know how it was, I didn't at all feel comfortable with the priests; for you see I'd rather sport my day figure with the boys and girls upon the green: so I gives Jack the hard word,* and in we went, when, behold you, there was Father Corrigan planted upon the side of a Settle, Mary along with him, […]”

“My Parsee […] assured me that if only he had the hard word about Linois's whereabouts, he and his associates would make lakh upon lakh of rupees.”

“The other thing that happened in 1969 was that José put the hard word on his brother again. This time José wanted him to join his slate for the elections to the local leadership of the metalworkers' union.”

“What do we do? We go and see them. Put the hard word on Glasgow's so-called hard men.”

CEFR level