school of hard knocks
(countable, idiomatic, chiefly, US) The source of an education consisting of real-world experiences, especially adverse experiences.
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(countable, idiomatic, chiefly, US) The source of an education consisting of real-world experiences, especially adverse experiences.
“As if credentials mean nothing lol I certainly wouldn't want to be treated by a doctor whose wall had a degree made in MS Word and said it was from the School of Hard Knocks and did their residency at Google Search Bar. 😒”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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A versatile piece of informal English with several distinct meanings depending on context. In party or drinking culture, to knock down means to drink heavily or get the party started. In street slang, particularly in hustling or underground economy contexts, it means to earn or acquire cash — sometimes through shady means. It also carries the literal sense of striking or colliding with something. The drinking and money-earning senses are the most alive in modern slang usage.
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An overwhelming blow.
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