WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
school′ of hard′ knocks′, 
  1. the experience gained from living, esp. from disappointment and hard work, regarded as a means of education:The only school he ever attended was the school of hard knocks.
  • 1910–15, American.

'school of hard knocks' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
school

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