English

Noun

university of life ‎(plural universities of life)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly Britain and Ireland) The real world as a source of instruction, as opposed to a formal education.

   I learned all I need to know from the university of life, not from books.

   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses, James Joyce (ISBN 9788892511828)

     [BEAUFOY:] We are considerably out of pocket over this bally pressman johnny, this jackdaw of Rheims, who has not even been to a university.

     BLOOM: (Indistinctly) University of life.

Translations

Synonyms

• school of hard knocks