Idiom
give a hard timegive (someone) a hard time
1.
to criticize someone and make them feel guilty about something that they have done.
I came home late one night last week and she's been giving me a hard time about it ever since.
(often +
about)
2.
to treat someone severely or to cause difficulties for them.
She'd always wanted to be a teacher, but those kids gave her a really hard time.