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drive someone hard
/drʌɪv ˈsʌmwʌn hɑːd/◆phrasal verb
push someone intensely
The manager drives his team hard to meet impossible deadlines.
The manager pushes the team very hard to meet unrealistic deadlines.
informal
To push someone to work very hard or perform at a high level, often with pressure or demands.
The coach drives his players hard during training sessions.
The coach pushes the players to train very intensely.
She drives herself hard to succeed in her career.
She pushes herself to work extremely hard to achieve success.
Often implies excessive pressure or demands, sometimes to the point of stress.
Collocations
drive someone too hardpush someone beyond reasonable limitsdrive oneself hardpush oneself to work very intensely
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overuse in formal contexts
This phrase is informal and may sound harsh in professional or polite settings. Use alternatives like 'demand high performance' or 'set high expectations' in formal writing.
Gold Rule
Use with caution
This phrase implies pressure and can sound critical. It is best used in contexts where the pressure is understood to be part of the environment, such as sports teams or competitive workplaces.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'drive' (to propel or compel action) and 'hard' (intensely or severely). The metaphorical use of 'drive' to mean 'compel' dates back to the 16th century, while 'hard' in the sense of 'intense' has been used since the 14th century.
Usage Notes
This phrase is typically used in work or competitive contexts. It can carry a negative connotation, implying that the pressure is excessive or unfair. Avoid using it in formal or sensitive contexts without context.
Word Breakdown
drive
to compel or propel someone to act
verbsomeone
a person or group being compelled
pronounhard
intensely or severely
adverbEnglish Dictionary