# through the mill

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/through-the-mill
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Through a period of bad treatment or an ordeal.

## Examples

- He has been through the mill lately with his health.
- After working three jobs to pay off his debts, he has really been through the mill.
- Having been through the mill during the long and difficult legal battle, the family finally sought a quiet life away from the public eye.

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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.