EMB - Fórum de Discussões

give somebody a hard time

1. (informal) to criticize someone and make them feel guilty about something that they have done (often + about ) I came home late one night last week and she's been giving me a hard time about it ever since.

2. to treat someone severely or to cause difficulties for them She'd always wanted to be a teacher, but those kids gave her a really hard time.

See also: give, hard, time
thefreedictionary

So para contariar could be "just to give someone a bad time". The word "just" is very important in the phrase because it indicates that you are teasing someone, pulling their leg, having fun with him. You are not trying to hurt, insult, offend, or humiliate him.

Autor:	Dale-USA
E-mail:	dale_thomas2004@yahoo.com.br
Data:	17/NOV/2011 1:21 AM
Assunto:	Só pra contrariar


Mensagem:	give somebody a hard time 1. (informal) to criticize someone and make them feel guilty about something that they have done (often + about ) I came home late one night last week and she's been giving me a hard time about it ever since. 2. to treat someone severely or to cause difficulties for them She'd always wanted to be a teacher, but those kids gave her a really hard time. See also: give, hard, time thefreedictionary So para contariar could be "just to give someone a bad time". The word "just" is very important in the phrase because it indicates that you are teasing someone, pulling their leg, having fun with him. You are not trying to hurt, insult, offend, or humiliate him.