hard lines

See also: hardlines

English

Pronunciation

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Interjection

hard lines

1. (slang, dated) Expressed to someone suffering misfortune.

Synonyms

• bad luck
• hard luck
• hard cheese

Noun

hard lines (uncountable)

1. (slang, dated) Hardship; misfortune.
   • 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

     “There ain’t no drain of nothing short handy, is there?” said the Chicken, generally. “This here sluicing night is hard lines to a man as lives on his condition.”
     Captain Cuttle proffered a glass of rum […]