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Meaning of school of hard knocks | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C2

Definitions

The source of an education consisting of real-world experiences, especially adverse experiences.

US, countable, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Trained, however, in the school of hard knocks, he now had learned the theory of success, and from that time on has had it.”
“Did Vietnam's school of hard knocks teach Americans to do peacemaking and state building right?”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

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