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jasonlulu_2000

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There were 22 students who were hard of hearing at NCC. Joan has worked with many of them.

Is the underlined part a natural collocation, which means have difficulty hearing.

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Jason
 

emsr2d2

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Yes, it's a very common phrase.
 

5jj

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Note that it's a fixed phrase. You cannot, for example, be 'hard of seeing'.
 

billmcd

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Note that it's a fixed phrase. You cannot, for example, be 'hard of seeing'.

Wait a minute. Maybe you're on to something. :shock:
 

jasonlulu_2000

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Note that it's a fixed phrase. You cannot, for example, be 'hard of seeing'.

Do you mean that this phrase is limited to "be hard of hearing"? Not used in any other situation?

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emsr2d2

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billmcd

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What do you mean by saying "you are on to something."?

I meant, in jest, that 5jj might have begun a new usage of "hard of......." as perhaps in "hard of seeing/smelling/tasting/feeling".

 

Tdol

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Hard of heart exists.
 

5jj

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Hard of heart exists.
True, but it's not very common. There are only two citations in the COCA, and one in the BNC.
 

emsr2d2

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And "hard of heart" doesn't apply to a limitation in an ability or a sense. It's more a description of one's personality.
 

Tdol

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True, but it's not very common. There are only two citations in the COCA, and one in the BNC.

Agreed- I had to scratch around to come up with it.
 
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