through the mill

idiom

chiefly British
: through a very difficult experience
They've been (put) through the mill in the months since their father died.

Examples of through the mill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cause of the outbreak may have passed through the mill months ago and is now gone, Dier said. Freep.com, 23 Apr. 2023 The cause of the outbreak may have passed through the mill months ago and is now gone, Dier said. Freep.com, 23 Apr. 2023 Since then, he has been ground through the mill of Russian justice; the film suggests that his incarceration may last as long as twenty years. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'through the mill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near through the mill

Cite this Entry

“Through the mill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20the%20mill. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

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