hit (someone or something) hard

hit (someone or something) hard

To affect someone or something in a profoundly negative way. Often used in a passive construction. I know losing his job hit Jeff hard, but he needs to get back up and start looking for work. The recent increase on tariffs has hit importers hard.See also: hard, hit

hit someone hard

Fig. to affect someone's emotions strongly. The death of his friend hit John hard. The investor was hit hard by the falling stock prices.See also: hard, hit

hit somebody/something ˈhard

affect somebody/something very badly: The death of her daughter hit her very hard.In the passive, we usually say ‘hard hit by’ instead of ‘hit hard by’: Pensioners have been particularly hard hit by the rise in heating costs.See also: hard, hit, somebody, something