do something the hard way

do (something) the hard way

To do something by using the most challenging method, or at least not the easiest method. Of course he crawled in though the window instead of just opening the unlocked back door—he has to do everything the hard way.
See also: hard, way
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

do something the hard way

COMMON If you do something the hard way, you have difficulty doing it or it is unpleasant for you to do it, often as a result of your own actions or decisions. Anything I've achieved has been done the hard way, through a lot of hard work. Ms Lomax, we can do this the hard way or the easy way.
See also: hard, something, way
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

do/learn something the ˈhard way

learn something from experience, especially when this is unpleasant: I learned the hard way not to trust door-to-door salesmen. Why do you always do everything the hard way?
See also: hard, learn, something, way
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • do (something) the hard way
  • do the hard way
  • do/learn something the hard way
  • any old how
  • my
  • cross the stream where it is shallowest
  • your
  • her
  • his
  • their