Grammar fix
bitter experience
unpleasant event
A situation or event that is very unpleasant or painful, often leaving you feeling disappointed or hurt.
collocationB1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Losing his job was a bitter experience that taught him a lot about resilience.
I once had a bitter experience when I failed an important exam, but it motivated me to work harder in the future.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I know it by bitter experience.
Say: I know it from bitter experience.
'FROM bitter experience', not 'by'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Profoundly disagreeable ordeal' is melodramatic; 'from bitter experience' is the set phrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
from bitter experience
- from
- learn
- know
- speak from