hard word

plural hard words

1. in pluralAn unkind word or comment; an insult.First known use 13th c.

   He would send the hard word round the country about me and my leman.

   1891, Bram Stoker, Snake's Pass

2. literallyA word which is difficult to understand or spell.First known use 16th c.
3. AustraliaIrelandA tip-off, or piece of inside information; a password.First known use 19th c.

   Cattle traders, says Joe, about the foot and mouth disease. I want to give the citizen the hard word about it.

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 12: Cyclops]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 281

   2 more examples

   I didn't at all feel comfortable with the priests; for you see I'd rather sport my day figure with the boys and girls upon the green: so I gives Jack the hard word,* and in we went, when, behold you, there was Father Corrigan planted upon the side of a Settle, Mary along with him […].

   1834 [1830], William Carleton, “Shane Fadh's Wedding”, in Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry, 3rd edition, Dublin: William Frederick Wakeman, pages 179–180

   My Parsee […] assured me that if only he had the hard word about Linois's whereabouts, he and his associates would make lakh upon lakh of rupees.

   1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise

4. AustraliaNew ZealandUKcolloquialA persistent or rude request, especially for money.First known use 20th c.

   What do we do? We go and see them. Put the hard word on Glasgow's so-called hard men.

   2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 125

   1 more example

   The other thing that happened in 1969 was that José put the hard word on his brother again. This time José wanted him to join his slate for the elections to the local leadership of the metalworkers' union.

   2003, Peter Robb, A Death in Brazil, Bloomsbury, published 2005, page 97