Go hard.

Question

As a teacher to student

I might go "lenient" on you this time for your negligible mistake.

But next time, I will go "hard" with you if don't change yourself.

So "lenient" means to treat someone fairly but in an opposite way, can I use "hard" as mentioned above?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Liton DasI might go "lenient" on you this time for your negligible mistake.

That is not natural. I would expect "I might be lenient with you this time for your negligible mistake." With "go … on", it becomes the more informal "I might go easy on you this time for your negligible mistake." That "might" seems wrong. Make up your mind before you open your mouth, unless you intend to go on to extort something from him. Also, if the mistake is negligible, why are we even having this conversation?

Liton DasBut next time, I will go "hard" with you if don't change yourself.

Also not natural, with added errors. "But next time, I will be hard on you if you don't correct yourself." There is a similar locution, "But next time, it will go hard with you if you don't correct yourself." That is much more of a threat, probably too much for a teacher-student exchange.

Go hard.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬