A tale of one's misfortunes told to elicit sympathy.

A cognitive bias comprising a tendency to overestimate the likelihood of one's success at a task perceived as difficult, and to underestimate that likelihood at a task perceived as easy.

plural of hard-easy effect

To lead to someone suffering; to place someone in difficulty or danger.

(idiomatic)

(art) A style of painting having abrupt transitions between areas of (often plain) color.

plural of hard-edge painting

(transitive) To affect somebody badly.

(simile, archaic) Very callous or hardhearted.

(simile, humorous) Very difficult.