tough

tough1 [ tʌf ] adjective ***

▸ 1 difficult

▸ 2 able to deal with things

▸ 3 confident/determined

▸ 4 very strict/severe

▸ 5 food: hard to cut/chew

▸ 6 hard to break/damage

▸ 7 likely to be violent

▸ 8 with crime/violence

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) difficult:

He's having a really tough time at the moment.

It was a tough decision to move overseas.

Many companies are facing tough competition.

2. ) strong and able to deal with difficult situations or pain:

I think she'll be all right because she's very tough.

3. ) confident and determined to get what you want:

a tough businessman

4. ) very strict and severe:

The report contained tough criticism of the company's management style.

She's campaigning for tough new laws on industrial pollution.

be tough on: The new mayor intends to be tough on crime.

take a tough stance/stand: We must take a tough stance against terrorism.

get tough with (=deal with in a severe way): She promised to get tough with speeders.

5. ) food, especially meat, that is tough is very difficult to cut and CHEW

6. ) difficult to break or damage:

The tool is made from a very tough and resilient steel.

7. ) likely to behave in a violent way:

a couple of tough-looking boys

8. ) a tough place is one in which there is a lot of crime and violence:

He grew up in a tough inner-city neighborhood.

tough luck

1. ) used for saying that you have no sympathy for someone:

Well, tough luck! I'm not going to do what he wants.

2. ) used for saying that you are sorry that something bad has happened to someone:

Tough luck about your job, I hope you'll find another one soon.

tough shit IMPOLITE

used for saying that you have no sympathy for someone

╾ tough|ly adverb:

a toughly worded message

╾ tough|ness noun uncount:

An athlete needs to show both physical and mental toughness.

=> NAIL1

tough

tough 2 [ tʌf ] verb

tough it out

to stay in a situation that is difficult because you are very determined:

I was prepared to tough it out for a while.

tough

tough 3 [ tʌf ] adverb

in a way that shows you are determined, strong, or not afraid:

act/talk etc. tough: This team can play tough when it has to.

tough

tough 4 [ tʌf ] noun count INFORMAL

a violent man, especially a violent criminal

tough

tough 5 [ tʌf ] interjection

used for saying that you have no sympathy for someone:

I wanted to come with you. Tough! You shouldn't have been late.

If they don't like my cooking, it's tough!