tough

tough
[[t]tʌ̱f[/t]]
♦♦
tougher, toughest, toughs, toughing, toughed
1) ADJ-GRADED A tough person is strong and determined, and can tolerate difficulty or suffering.

He built up a reputation as a tough businessman...

She is tough and ambitious.

Derived words:
toughness N-UNCOUNT

Mrs Potter has won a reputation for toughness and determination on her way to the top.

2) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone as tough, you mean that they are rough and violent.

He had shot three people dead earning himself a reputation as a tough guy.

N-COUNT
A tough is a tough person.

Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.

3) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A tough place or area is considered to have a lot of crime and violence.

She doesn't seem cut out for this tough neighbourhood...

Arthur grew up in a tough city.

Syn:
4) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A tough way of life or period of time is difficult or full of suffering.

She had a pretty tough childhood...

It's been a tough day...

He was having a really tough time at work.

Syn:
5) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, ADJ to-inf A tough task or problem is difficult to do or solve.

It was a very tough decision but we feel we made the right one...

Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job getting the economy back on its feet...

It may be tough to raise cash...

Change is often tough to deal with.

Syn:
6) ADJ-GRADED Tough policies or actions are strict and firm.

He is known for taking a tough line on security...

He announced tough measures to limit the money supply.

Syn:
7) ADJ-GRADED A tough substance is strong, and difficult to break, cut, or tear.

In industry, diamond can form a tough, non-corrosive coating for tools.

...dark brown beans with a rather tough outer skin.

8) ADJ-GRADED Tough meat is difficult to cut and chew.

The steak was tough and the peas were like bullets.

9) PHRASE: V inflects If someone who is trying to achieve something hangs tough, they remain determined and do not give up, even when there are difficulties or problems. [AM, INFORMAL]

The White House is hanging tough for a good agreement to be reached.

10) a tough row to hoe → see hoe
tough luck → see luck
a tough nut → see nut
Phrasal Verbs:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tough´ly — tough «tuhf», adjective, adverb, noun, verb. –adjective. 1. bending without breaking: »Leather is tough; cardboard is not. 2. hard to cut, tear, or chew: »The steak was so tough, I couldn t eat it. 3. stiff; sticky: »tough clay …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tough — Tough, a. [Compar. {Tougher}; superl. {Toughest}.] [OE. tough, AS. t[=o]h, akin to D. taai, LG. taa, tage, tau, OHG. z[=a]hi, G. z[aum]he, and also to AS. getenge near to, close to, oppressive, OS. bitengi.] 1. Having the quality of flexibility… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tough — 高校鉄拳伝タフ/タフ (Koko Tekken den Tough/Tough) Genre action, comédie, arts martiaux, sport Manga : Koko Tekken den Tough Type Seinen Auteur Tetsuya Saruwatari …   Wikipédia en Français

  • tough — [tuf] adj. [ME < OE toh, akin to Ger zäh, tough, viscous, prob. < IE base * denk , to bite > TONGS] 1. strong but pliant; that will bend, twist, etc. without tearing or breaking 2. that will not cut or chew easily [tough steak] 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • Tough — may refer to: * Tough (manga), a Japanese manga series by Tetsuya Saruwatari * Tough (song), by country music artist Craig Morgan * Tough (Kurtis Blow album), a 1982 album by Kurtis Blow * Tough (Wishbone Ash album), a 2008 album by Wishbone Ash… …   Wikipedia

  • tough — 〈[ tʌ̣f] Adj.; umg.〉 hart, streng, tüchtig, selbstsicher, bestimmt ● die Verhandlungen waren sehr tough; ihr Auftreten ist tough [engl., „hart, zäh“] * * * tough [taf ; engl. tough, verw. mit ↑ zäh], taff [jidd. toff < hebr. tôv = gut] <Adj …   Universal-Lexikon

  • tough — tough; tough·en; tough·ie; tough·ish; tough·ly; tough·ness; …   English syllables

  • tough — [adj1] sturdy, strong brawny, cohesive, conditioned, dense, durable, fibrous, firm, fit, flinty, hard, hard as nails*, hard bitten*, hardened, hardy, healthy, indigestible, inflexible, leathery, lusty, mighty, molded, resilient, resistant, rigid …   New thesaurus

  • tough´en|er — tough|en «TUHF uhn», transitive verb. to make tough or tougher: »He toughened his muscles by doing exercises. –v.i. to become tough or tougher: »His muscles finally toughened. –tough´en|er, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • tough|en — «TUHF uhn», transitive verb. to make tough or tougher: »He toughened his muscles by doing exercises. –v.i. to become tough or tougher: »His muscles finally toughened. –tough´en|er, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tough —    TOUGH, a parish, in the district of Alford, county of Aberdeen, 5 miles (S. E. by E.) from Alford; containing 762 inhabitants. This place is situated partly in the northern and western portions of the Corrennie range, or Red hill, and partly… …   A Topographical dictionary of Scotland

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