Money problems · Money and prices
fall on hard times
experience serious financial problems
To fall on hard times is to begin experiencing serious difficulties, especially financial ones.
This vs that
They fell on hard times.
They got by.
Hear it in real life
Why is Daniel selling his car?
His business fell on hard times during the winter.
After the factory closed, several families in the town fell on hard times.
Which sounds natural?
Psst — which one would you actually say?
The idiom is a natural way to describe a difficult change in someone's circumstances.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: After losing his job, he fell in hard times.
Say: After losing his job, he fell on hard times.
Use the fixed preposition 'on'.
Say it together
Whole chunks natives use with it.
fall on hard times after ___
Some families fall on hard times after a serious illness.
He fell on hard times after losing his job.
Phrases to borrow
More for talking about money problems.
be short of money
We’re a bit short of money until payday.
fall into debt
Many people fall into debt after losing their jobs.
Money problems words
Money and prices · Money problems: the words around “fall on hard times”.
More connectionsEasy to mix up · More money problems words7
More money problems words
Your turn: say it out loud
They fell on hard times.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
fall on hard times
experience serious financial problems
“After the factory closed, several families in the town fell on hard times.”
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