hit (someone or something) hard
To affect someone or something in a profoundly negative way. Often used in a passive construction. I know losing his job hit Jeff hard, but he needs to get back up and start looking for work. The recent increase on tariffs has hit importers hard.
hit someone hard
Fig. to affect someone's emotions strongly. The death of his friend hit John hard. The investor was hit hard by the falling stock prices.
hit somebody/something ˈhard
affect somebody/something very badly: The death of her daughter hit her very hard.In the passive, we usually say ‘hard hit by’ instead of ‘hit hard by’: Pensioners have been particularly hard hit by the rise in heating costs.