hard cheese
An unsympathetic retort to someone suffering misfortune.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You missed the bus? Hard cheese, you will have to walk.”
“I asked for a refund on my non-refundable ticket, but the clerk just said hard cheese.”
“When the investor complained about the sudden loss of his capital, the firm offered only a cold shrug and a dismissive hard cheese.”
- 01
a little bit of bread and no cheese
Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
- 02
big cheese
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
- 03
bone hard
As hard as a bone, rock hard.
- 04
chalk and cheese
Said of things that are very different, though possibly superficially alike.
- 05
cheese tax
A portion of cheese given to a domestic animal such as a dog or cat, usually when the cheese is being brought out or prepared for human consumption.
- 06
cheesed off
Annoyed, upset, angry.
- 07
cock cheese
Smegma or dried semen on the glans penis, usually underneath the foreskin.
- 08
cold hard cash
Money, regarded as an incentive that can override any doubts or ethical concerns.
Last updated August 10, 2026