A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

hard for someone • hard on someone
hard for someone —difficult for a person: It is hard for me to
recall a face or a person’s appearance.
hard on someone —treating smb. severely or harshly: You
mustn’t be so hard on the poor child.
hard-headed • soft-headed
hard-headed —
1
. rational and shrewd, not influenced by sen-
timents: She was hard-headed enough to be practical about
the situation. 2. self-willed and obstinate : I was so hard-
headed, I wouldn’t admit to being wrong even if I was at gun-
point.
soft-headed —(coll.) foolish: Saying that someone else is soft-
headed is no way to convince people of anything.
hard labor • hard work
hard labor —imprisonment with hard physical work as a
punishment: Glynn was sentenced to three months hard labor,
but won an appeal.
hard work —
1
. difficult and tiring work: It has been hard
work to establish order here. 2. (coll.) said of smb. who is
difficult to deal with: I had to sit next to Frank at dinner. I
don’t know about you, but I find him such hard work.
hard line • hard lines
hard line —unyielding adherence to a firm policy: The hard
line adopted by Australia’s conservative government proved
popular among voters.
hard lines —
1
. bad luck; misfortune: It was hard lines indeed
for Mr. Watson to meet with such a demon of a hare. 2.
(exclam.) is used to show sympathy and understanding: “I’m
not getting a holiday this year.” “Hard lines on you!”
hard line money • hard money
hard line money—(Nautical) extra pay in consideration of
special hardships (also: hard-lying money): Besides, there is hard-
line money, which makes up for a good many discomforts.
hard money —
1
. (also: hard cash) money in its proper form,
as distinguished from checks, etc.: Husbandmen, like other
laborers, are paid in hard money by the week. 2. a currency
with a high exchange value, not easily subject to depreciation:
International speculators trashed the ruble, Russia’s national
currency, and looted the country’s hard-money reserves. 3.
(also: tight money) money available to borrowers at high interest
rates and short payback: Due to the immense amount of loans,
the bank had a significant lack of “hard money” available to
its users. 4. (U.S.) political donations to party organizations
subject to legal restrictions: Parties and candidates may use
hard money donations for all political purposes.