Learn something the hard way

Learn something the hard way

• to learn something by experience, especially by an unpleasant experience. (As opposed to learning in school, from reading, etc.)

She learned how to make investments the hard way. I wish I didn't have to learn things the hard way. I found out the hard way that it's difficult to work and go to school at the same time.

• to discover what you need to know through experience or by making mistakes

He doesn’t want to take my advice, so I guess he'll have to learn the hard way.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Learning the hard way refers to the educational results developed in the process of living life, the perspective gained as a result of trial and error—more often used in reference to the mistakes, mis-steps and misunderstandings which lead to better judgment.The phrase is also used to describe learning from one's own efforts.[1] The idiomatic expression refers to learning from bad, difficult or unpleasant experiences.[2]