Dictionary

school of hard knocks en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (US, countable, idiomatic) The source of an education consisting of real-world experiences, especially adverse experiences.
   • Trained, however, in the school of hard knocks, he now had learned the theory of success, and from that time on has had it. 1870, The Men Who Advertise: An Account of Successful Advertisers, New York: Rowell, page 161:
   • Did Vietnam's school of hard knocks teach Americans to do peacemaking and state building right? 2000 April 26, Walter A. McDougall, “Who Were We in Vietnam?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 27 May 2015, retrieved 03 Aug 2008:

Forms

Relateds

learn from experience · learn the hard way · experience is the best teacher · life lesson

Synonyms

university of the streets · university of life · university of hard knocks

Translations (13)

pt escola da vida (source of education by adverse experience) · sv livets hårda skola (source of education by adverse experience) · fi kantapään kautta oppiminen (source of education by adverse experience) · ru шко́ла жи́зни (source of education by adverse experience) · de Schule des Lebens (source of education by adverse experience) · ro școala vieții (source of education by adverse experience) · cmn 人生學校 /人生学校 (source of education by adverse experience) · fr école de la vie (source of education by adverse experience) · kk өмір мектебі (source of education by adverse experience) · pl szkoła życia (source of education by adverse experience) · fr école de vie (source of education by adverse experience) · fi elämänkoulu (source of education by adverse experience) · es gramática parda (source of education by adverse experience)