hurt people hurt people
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Those who have been hurt in the past tend to propagate their hurt when interacting with new people.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hurt people hurt people” mean?
Those who have been hurt in the past tend to propagate their hurt when interacting with new people.
Is “hurt people hurt people” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.