student asking question

What does "I can hardly believe it" mean? How different "I can hardly believe it" and "I can believe it"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"I can hardly believe" is an idiom meaning that you are unable to believe or accept what is happening. It has the nuance of surprise and disbelief. Therefore it is the direct opposite to "I can believe it". Ex: I can hardly believe you did that to me! (I am struggling to accept that this happened) Ex: I can believe you did that to me! (I accept what happened).

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