# have a time of it

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/have-a-time-of-it
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To undergo a painful or difficult experience.

## Examples

- He is having a hard time of it with his new job.
- After the storm destroyed their roof, the family really had a time of it trying to find a place to stay.
- The elderly traveler, lost in the unfamiliar city during the blizzard, certainly had a time of it before finally finding shelter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.