through the mill

through the mill
*through the mill
Fig. badly treated; abused and exhausted. (Fig. on a grain mill. *Typically: be \through the mill; go \through the mill; put someone \through the mill; send someone \through the mill.) •

This has been a rough day. I've really been through the mill.

This old car is banged up, and it hardly runs. We really put it through the mill.

* * *
{adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. * /You could tell immediately that the new employee had been through the mill./ 2. Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life. * /Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he's back in the hospital. He's realty gone through the mill./ Compare: GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • through the mill — {adv. phr.} 1. Experienced. * /You could tell immediately that the new employee had been through the mill./ 2. Through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life. * /Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he s… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • through the mill — chiefly Brit : through a very difficult experience They ve been (put) through the mill in the months since their father died. • • • Main Entry: ↑mill …   Useful english dictionary

  • through\ the\ mill — adv. phr. 1. Experienced. You could tell immediately that the new employee had been through the mill. 2. through real experience of the difficulties of a certain way of life. Poor Jerry has had three operations in one year, and now he s back in… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • through the mill — used a lot, nearly worn out, put you through the mill    These jeans have been through the mill. They re ragged …   English idioms

  • through the mill — mod. abused; well worn. □ That was some convention. I’ve really been through the mill. □ I feel like I’ve gone through the mill. I’m pooped …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • through the mill —  Subjected to a difficult experience.  ► “Instead, they’re putting the analysts through the mill as third party witnesses. Their files no doubt contain many documents relevant to Castano’s issues, and tobacco executives who have spoken to them… …   American business jargon

  • through the mill — experience a difficult situation He has really been through the mill after his divorce and loss of job …   Idioms and examples

  • To go through the mill — Mill Mill, n. [OE. mille, melle, mulle, milne, AS. myln, mylen; akin to D. molen, G. m[ u]hle, OHG. mul[=i], mul[=i]n, Icel. mylna; all prob. from L. molina, fr. mola millstone; prop., that which grinds, akin to molere to grind, Goth. malan, G.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • through the mill — idi+inf through a set of difficult or painful experiences …   From formal English to slang

  • go through the mill — go through/put someone through/the mill phrase to experience a difficult or unpleasant period of time I hear Jim is really going through the mill with his divorce. The champions looked as if they were going to put their humble opponents through… …   Useful english dictionary

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