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