give a hard time

Meaning

1. Oxford100% of films

   to deliberately make a situation difficult and unpleasant for sb

In the movies · 10

• Boys still giving her a hard time about the braces?The Last Boy Scout1991
• No, I'm not giving you a hard time.Silver Linings Playbook2012
• Me, I always had to give him a hard time, so I would tease him about nailin' grandma.Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father2008
• I give Mom a hard time now, and…The Adam Project2022
• Well, most of them give me a hard time.The Guest2014
• Don't give me a hard time, too, buddy.The Art of Racing in the Rain2019
• Give me a hard time, I'll report you loaded, drunk or stealing.Heat1995
• No, no, I'm giving you a hard time.25th Hour2002

Learn it in full scenes

• The Last Boy Scout1991
  • Joe Comes Home After Midnight
  • Joe Catches Mike in the Closet
  • Joe and Sarah's Bitter Fight
• Silver Linings Playbook2012
  • Pat Rides Home From the Hospital
  • Pat's Silver Lining Speech
  • Pat Tells Dr. Patel the Truth

From the same entry

• be hard on
• drive a hard bargain
• hard and fast
• hard as nails
• hard cheese
• hard going
• hard luck
• the hard way
• make hard work of
• no hard feelings
• play hard to get
• too much like hard work

More idioms

• the minute
• a train of thought
• come to terms with
• hit the nail on the head
• a change of heart
• god knows
• lose touch
• be out of touch
• have back
• in front
• go without saying
• have second thoughts