The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CLOCKED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
C
L
O
C
K
E
D
More clues leading to the result CLOCKED
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Hit hard" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hit hard = clocked.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CLOCKED mean?
CLOCKED verb- To measure the duration of.
- To measure the speed of.
- To hit (someone) heavily.
- To take notice of; to realise; to recognize someone or something
- To falsify the reading of the odometer of a vehicle.
- To beat a video game.
- To ornament (e.g. the side of a stocking) with figured work.
- To make the sound of a hen; to cluck.
- To hatch.
- Embroidered with clocks.
- Electronically running at a particular rate; governed by a repetitive time signal.
- Of a motor vehicle: having had its odometer turned back so as to display a lower mileage.