1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, p. 110. Most of the passengers had disappeared for the night, and only a knot of hard-heads were left upon deck.
Hard-hit. To be hard hit, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To have experienced a heavy loss; as over a race, at cards, etc.
2. (colloquial).—To be deeply in love; completely gone on (q.v.).
1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies’ Gallery, ch. xxv. The wound was keen, I had been hit hard.
1891. M. E. Braddon, Gerard, p. 312. You’ve been hard hit.
Hard-lines, subs. (colloquial).—Hardship; difficulty; an unfortunate result or occurrence. [Formerly line = lot: Cf., Bible and Prayer book version of Psalm xvi., 5, 6.]
1855. Notes and Queries, 1 S. xii., p. 287. Hard Lines. Whence is this expression, so common, particularly among seafaring men, derived?
1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. xxiii. I think it’s deuced hard lines to lock up a fellow for merely humbugging an old parson up in Kentish Town.
1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. For the Kempton folks it was rather hard lines.
1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies’ Gallery, ch. xxvi. It’s awful hard lines, Lady Star Strange, that I am only thought good enough for you Londoners in the dead season.