1900s
Still common
Definition
To make a forceful, pointed request of someone — asking for money, a favour, or, most commonly today, chatting someone up.
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Where "Put the Hard Word On" Comes From
To “put the hard word on” someone is to make a forceful, pointed request — asking for money, a favour, or, most commonly today, chatting someone up.
The phrase has roots in British dialect but was well established in Australia by the early 1900s, with a 1915 newspaper hoping a man “will not put the 'hard word' on too many of us.” It's kept that same blunt, direct sense ever since.
Example Sentence
He put the hard word on his boss for a pay rise.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Still heard whenever someone makes a direct, no-nonsense ask — for money, a favour, or romantically.
“He put the hard word on her at the pub” simply means he made his move.
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