Tough Difficult I Tʌf Toughest Strong Deal Make

• a tough childhood
• it was a tough decision to make.
• during the interview i was asked some really tough questions.
• now karen must make one of the toughest choices of her life.

tough

1. having or causing problems or difficulties
• a tough childhood
• It was a tough decision to make.
• During the interview I was asked some really tough questions.
• Now Karen must make one of the toughest choices of her life.
• She's been having a tough time of it (= a lot of problems) lately.
• Times are tough at the moment.
• We've got a tough fight ahead.
• He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far.
• What was the toughest job you ever had?
• a tough task
• It can be tough trying to juggle a career and a family.
• He faces tough competition from the rest of the team.
• Puberty can be tough on kids.
• I knew she was going to be tough to beat.

Extra Examples

• He may find it tough to pursue his plans.
• The strong dollar has made it tough for small businesses.
• Things were pretty tough at first.
• It's tough out there in the real world.
• The next couple of months will be tough, but I'm sure we'll cope.
• It's very tough on the wives when the husbands go off like that.
2. demanding that particular rules be obeyed and showing a lack of sympathy for any problems that this may cause
• OPPOSITE soft
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/soft
• It's about time teachers started to get tough with bullies.
• Politicians believe they have to be tough on crime.
• Don't be too tough on him—he was only trying to help.
• The school takes a tough line on (= punishes severely) cheating.
• The president is well known for his tough stance on immigrants and asylum-seekers.
• tough new anti-terror measures
• Local traders are calling for tougher action against vandals.

Extra Examples

• Has the government been tough enough on polluters?
• The government has promised to get tough on crime.
• You have to be tough with these young thugs.
• There will be tough new controls on car emissions.
• We must take a tough stance against terrorism.
3. strong enough to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
• a tough breed of cattle
• He's not tough enough for a career in sales.
• She’s a tough cookie/customer (= somebody who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people).
• Celine is a fighter, a tough nut.
• How mentally tough are you?
4. physically strong and likely to be violent
• You think you're so tough, don't you?
• He plays the tough guy in the movie.
• Then this guy started acting tough.
5. with a lot of crime or violence
• She grew up in a tough neighbourhood.
6. difficult to cut or bite on
• OPPOSITE tender
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/tender_2
• The meat was a bit tough.
• Overcooking the burger will make it tough and dry.
7. not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.
• a tough pair of shoes
• The reptile's skin is tough and scaly.
8. unlucky for somebody in a way that seems unfair
• It was tough on her being dropped from the team like that.
• ‘I can't get it finished in time.’ ‘Tough! (= I don't feel sorry about it.)’
9. to be determined and refuse to change your attitude or ideas
10. a person who is difficult to deal with or to influence
11. a difficult problem or situation to deal with
12. a person or event that is so good or successful at something that it will be difficult for anyone/anything else coming after them to be as good or successful
• She has been an excellent principal and will be a hard act to follow.
• Their contribution will prove a tough act to follow.
13. to tell people very strongly what you want
14. very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
• She’s almost 90 but she’s still as tough as old boots.
15. used to show sympathy for somebody that something bad that has happened to
• ‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’
16. used to show that you do not feel sorry for somebody who has a problem
• ‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’
17. when conditions or progress become difficult (strong and determined people work even harder to succeed)

Word Origin

• Old English tōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch taai and German zäh.