Tough | Mean of tough in English Dictionary

/ˈtʌf/

• very difficult to do or deal with
1. a tough [=hard] assignment/problem
2. tough choices
3. She had a tough time in college.
4. It's been a tough year for our family. = This year has been tough on [=hard on] our family.
5. It was tough to quit smoking.
6. The problem was tough to solve.
• physically and emotionally strong
1. tough soldiers
2. Are you tough enough for the job?
• physically strong and violent
1. tough criminals
2. He's been hanging around with a bunch of tough guys.

• strong and not easily broken or damaged
1. tough fibers
2. The rug is made of tough material.
• difficult to cut or chew
1. tough meat
• very strict
1. a tough law/policy
2. He's a tough boss/teacher, but fair.
3. The candidates both vow to get tough on crime. [=to deal harshly with criminals]
• having a lot of crime or danger
1. a tough neighborhood
• hard to influence or persuade
1. She's a tough bargainer/negotiator.
• unfortunate in a way that seems unfair
1. It's tough that he lost that job.
2. “He failed the test.” “Well, that's tough. Maybe if he'd studied a little he would have passed.”
3. He failed the test? Tough! [=too bad] He should have studied more than he did.
• very tough
1. This steak is as tough as old boots.
2. Don't worry about her—she's as tough as old boots.
• Verb
• to deal with a difficult situation by being determined and refusing to quit
1. She hated her job, but she toughed it out until she found a better one.
2. Can you tough it out until the end of the game?
• Noun
• a tough and violent person
1. a gang of toughs
• in a way that shows that you are strong or tough
1. play tough
2. He talks tough but he's not really dangerous.