had a terrible experienceThe past form of 目に遭う, used when someone has gone through something unpleasant, difficult, or dangerous. Often follows an adjective describing the experience, such as ひどい目に遭った (had a terrible experience).
JA: 旅行中に財布を盗まれて、ひどい目に遭った。
EN: I had a terrible experience when my wallet was stolen during the trip.