give someone a hard time

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

give someone a hard time (third-person singular simple present gives someone a hard time, present participle giving someone a hard time, simple past gave someone a hard time, past participle given someone a hard time)

1. (idiomatic, informal) To cause difficulty or make trouble for someone.

   During WWII, German troops gave the Allies a hard time in Italy, but eventually the Allies broke through.

2. (idiomatic, informal) To tease, kid or rib someone.

   He's usually pretty good-natured when the children give him a hard time about his bald spot.

Translations

cause difficulty or make trouble for someone

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 給……帶來麻煩／给……带来麻烦 (gěi... dàilái máfan), 為難／为难 (zh) (wéinán)

• Finnish: pitää jotakin kovilla
• Polish: przysparzać kłopotów impf, przysporzyć kłopotów pf
• Romanian: îi da cuiva bătăi de cap, da de furcă cuiva, face cuiva zile fripte
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: hacérselo pasar mal a alguien

tease, kid or rib someone

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 戲弄／戏弄 (zh) (xìnòng), 取笑 (zh) (qǔxiào), 欺負／欺负 (zh) (qīfù)

• Finnish: kiusoitella (fi)
• Polish: besztać (pl) impf, zbesztać pf
• Romanian: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can