hard word

noun4

1. •
   A word which is difficult to understand or spell.
2. •
   [in the plural] An unkind word or comment; an insult.

   • He would send the hard word round the country about me and my leman. — 1891
3. •
   (UK, informal) A persistent or rude request, especially for money.

   • What do we do? We go and see them. Put the hard word on Glasgow's so-called hard men. — 2022
4. •
   (Australia, Ireland) A tip-off, or piece of inside information; a password.

   • My Parsee […] assured me that if only he had the hard word about Linois's whereabouts, he and his associates would make lakh upon lakh of rupees. — 1973