bitter experience — unpleasant event
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutraloccasional
A situation or event that is very unpleasant or painful, often leaving you feeling disappointed or hurt.
Say it like a native
Textbook I learned this through a profoundly disagreeable and painful ordeal.
Native I learned that from bitter experience.
'Profoundly disagreeable ordeal' is melodramatic; 'from bitter experience' is the set phrase.
Pattern: bitter experience (of something) / have/go through/suffer a bitter experience
In use
- Losing his job was a bitter experience that taught him a lot about resilience.daily life
- I once had a bitter experience when I failed an important exam, but it motivated me to work harder in the future.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I know it by bitter experience.
✓ I know it from bitter experience.
'FROM bitter experience', not 'by'.
Common collocations
from bitter experience— from, learn, know, speak from
Don't confuse it
'Bitter experience' is stronger than just 'bad experience'—it suggests emotional pain or regret.