To cause someone difficulty, trouble, or persistent annoyance through criticism, teasing, or making things more challenging than necessary. Can range from playful ribbing to serious harassment.
This phrase developed in early 20th century American English, where 'hard time' originally referred to difficult periods or imprisonment ('doing hard time'). The expression evolved to describe any situation where someone makes life more difficult for another person. It can be used for both serious harassment and good-natured teasing.
Try Another Word