tough
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++tough1 /tʌf/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative tougher, superlative toughest) 1 difficult 困难的DIFFICULT difficult to do or deal with 难办的，棘手的，费力的 It was a tough race. 比赛打得很艰难。 She’s had a tough life. 她的生活十分艰辛。 The company admitted that it had been a tough year. 公司承认那是艰难的一年。 Tough decisions will have to be made. 必须作出艰难的决定。 The reporters were asking a lot of tough questions. 记者们问了很多难以回答的问题。have a tough time (of it) (=face a lot of difficult problems) 日子很难过 The family has had a tough time of it these last few months. 最近几个月这家人的日子很难熬。it’s tough doing something It’s tough being married to a cop. 嫁给一个警察日子不好过。be tough on somebody (=cause problems for someone or make their life difficult) 使某人日子难过 Having to stay indoors all day is tough on a kid. 对于小孩子来说，整天待在屋里不出门是很难熬的。 It was a tough call (=a difficult decision), but we had to cancel the game because of the weather. 尽管是一个艰难的决定，但由于天气不好我们只得取消比赛。 I find his books pretty tough going (=difficult to read). 我发现他的书很难读。 Gage predicted the president’s proposal would be a tough sell (=something that is difficult to persuade someone about) before Congress. American English 盖奇预言总统的提议在国会很难通过。when the going gets tough (the tough get going) informal (=used to say that when a situation becomes difficult, strong people take the necessary action to deal with it) 时艰出英雄► see thesaurus at difficult2 strong person 坚强的人STRONG PERSON physically or emotionally strong and able to deal with difficult situations 坚强的，顽强的；能吃苦耐劳的 The men who work on the oil rigs are a tough bunch. 在石油钻塔上工作的都是吃苦耐劳的人。tough cookie/customer informal (=someone who is very determined to do what they want and not what other people want) 我行我素的家伙as tough as nails/as tough as old boots (=very tough) 非常坚强的；能吃大苦的 He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team. 他是个很坚韧的人——队里有他真好。► see thesaurus at determined3 strong material 坚固的材料STRONG OBJECT not easily broken or made weaker 结实的，不易破损的；坚固的 tough, durable plastic 坚韧耐用的塑料 a very tough, hard-wearing cloth 非常结实、耐磨的布料► see thesaurus at strong4 strict/firm 严格/坚定DETERMINEDSTRICT very strict or firm 严厉的；强硬的tough on/with My mother was very tough on my sister. 我母亲对我姐姐十分严厉。 It’s time to get tough with drunk drivers. 是该严厉处理酒后驾车的司机了。 The EU is taking a tough line with the UK over this issue. 在这一问题上，欧盟对英国的态度很强硬。► see thesaurus at strict5 violent area 暴力地区VIOLENT a tough part of a town has a lot of crime or violence 〔城区〕暴力犯罪多发的，治安很差的tough neighborhood/area/part of town etc a tough area of Chicago 芝加哥治安很差的一个地区6 tough!/that’s tough! spokenDON'T CARE used when you do not have any sympathy with someone 活该！7 tough luck! spoken8. tough shit! spoken not polite used when you do not have any sympathy for someone’s problems 活该！9 violent person 粗暴的人VIOLENT likely to behave violently and having no gentle qualities 粗暴的，凶恶的10 food 食物DFHARD difficult to cut or eat 切不下的；咬不动的；不嫩的，老的 OPP tender11. tough love a way of helping someone to change their behaviour by treating them in a kind but strict way 〔为帮助某人改变行为而采取的〕严厉的爱 —toughly adverb —toughness noun [uncountable]Examples from the Corpus
tough• Westinghouse last week adopted a poisonpill plan to make any takeover attempt tougher.• Being the new kid at school is always tough.• I know she's only a kid, but she's tough.• Times were tough and jobs scarce in 1936, and it proved necessary for most young men to land where they could.• The chancellor has got to be tough and keep government spending down.• The chicken was very tough, as though it had not been freshly cooked that day.• As the new version of Navigator goes on sale Friday, Netscape is facing the toughest competition of its young life.• In straitened times, group directors will face tough decisions about allocating resources between divisions.• The box is made of tough durable plastic.• Normal floor paint might not be tough enough for the garage.• The governor is trying to show voters that he's able to deal with the toughest issues facing Ohio today.• Geri's a tough lady.• Opposition leaders are demanding tougher laws against drinking and driving.• a pair of tough leather boots• Archbishop Fisher went so far as to write a very tough letter to the editor in defence of Ramsey.• a tough neighborhood• The federal government is introducing tough new rules to control immigration.• My grandmother was a tough old lady, who lived through some very hard times.• The investigators asked a lot of tough questions.• The judge asked the lawyers on both sides some very tough questions.• He's a good person to be with if ever you're in a tough situation.• His head was probably tougher than a brass doorknob.• In games like this it is more important to be mentally tough, than physically fit.• Many of the veteran players had a tough time adjusting to the coach's style.• The sailors wore jackets made from tough waterproof cotton.• She's quite tough with her students.tough questions• Both sides must confront tough questions.• His eyelids blinked rapidly as he registered the toughest questions.• The appearance is adversarial-tough reporters asking tough questions.• The most conservative justice, Antonin Scalia, was skeptical and asked both prosecutors tough questions.• The Perot crowd here peppered him with tough questions about free trade and wealth, and he rarely stumbled.tough cookie/customer• But he'd take on some one like Glenda Grower, who's a much tougher customer.• But the tough treatment was only for tough customers.• Mr Kinnock is clearly a tough cookie.• Being a dedicated tough cookie, he has delivered the goods in impressive manner.• We're tough cookies here, and so are you.• In general, the provincial circuit is a far tougher cookie than its metropolitan counterpart.• He looks a tough customer to deal with.• Now, women on television are depicted as tough cookies who need a man like a fish needs a trouser press.tough on/with• If Feinstein takes on Lungren, she must have a Washington record of being tough on crime.• And you didn't get tough with Mahoney, because Vecchi killed him himself, so he knows that.• The new year may be even tougher on the embattled ministry.• It's been tough on the kids.• It s going to be tough with this lineup tomorrow.• Mom was always very tough with us kids.• But it is easy to admit that one should have been tougher on what is now the dominant issue.• I was very tough on you, but it worked.tough guys• Two young men in their late teens mugged for the camera, adopting the pose of a couple of affable tough guys.• My boss there was one of the toughest guys I ever hope to meet.• They're just guns for hire: tough guys sent on a job.• It shows the stars can be anything but tough guys when it comes to danger.• Unlike a good many tough guys who made it big in movies, Marvin didn't come from a particularly tough background.• Think of the 10 toughest guys you know.tough2 verb 1 tough something ↔ out phrasal verb to deal with a difficult situation by being determined, rather than leaving or changing your decision 闯过〔难关〕，从〔困境中〕挺过来 She told herself to be brave and tough it out. 她告诉自己要勇敢地挺过去。→ See Verb tabletough3 noun [countable] 1.old-fashionedVIOLENT someone who often behaves in a violent way 暴徒，恶棍Examples from the Corpus
tough• Charles's body language was geared to communicating to street toughs.tough4 adverb 1 in a way that shows you are very determined 坚强地，坚定地 Washington played tough in the second half of the game. 华盛顿队在比赛的下半场表现得十分顽强。 You’re talking tough now but you wait until you get into the interview. 你现在嘴硬，等到你面试时就知道了。Examples from the Corpus
tough• The team plays tough when it has to.Origin tough1 Old English tohwith difficult Corpus or do deal to
tough
tough1 S2 W2 /tʌf/ 
adjective (comparative tougher, superlative toughest)
It was a tough race.
She’s had a tough life.
The company admitted that it had been a tough year.
Tough decisions will have to be made.
The reporters were asking a lot of tough questions.
have a tough time (of it) (=face a lot of difficult problems)
The family has had a tough time of it these last few months.
it’s tough doing something
It’s tough being married to a cop.
be tough on somebody (=cause problems for someone or make their life difficult)
Having to stay indoors all day is tough on a kid.
It was a tough call (=a difficult decision), but we had to cancel the game because of the weather.
I find his books pretty tough going (=difficult to read).
Gage predicted the president’s proposal would be a tough sell (=something that is difficult to persuade someone about) before Congress. American English
when the going gets tough (the tough get going) informal (=used to say that when a situation becomes difficult, strong people take the necessary action to deal with it)
2. STRONG PERSON physically or emotionally strong and able to deal with difficult situations:
The men who work on the oil rigs are a tough bunch.
tough cookie/customer informal (=someone who is very determined to do what they want and not what other people want)
as tough as nails/as tough as old boots (=very tough)
He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team.
3. STRONG MATERIAL not easily broken or made weaker:
tough, durable plastic
a very tough, hard-wearing cloth
4. STRICT/FIRM very strict or firm
tough on/with
My mother was very tough on my sister.
It’s time to get tough with drunk drivers.
The EU is taking a tough line with the UK over this issue.
5. VIOLENT AREA a tough part of a town has a lot of crime or violence
tough neighborhood/area/part of town etc
a tough area of Chicago
6. tough__/that’s tough__ spoken used when you do not have any sympathy with someone:
‘I’m getting wet.’ ‘Tough__ You should’ve brought your umbrella.’
She didn’t tell us she was coming, so if this screws up her plans that’s just tough.
7. tough luck__ spoken
a. used when you do not have any sympathy for someone’s problems:
Well, that’s just their tough luck__ It was their mistake.
b. British English used when you feel sympathy about something bad that has happened to someone:
You didn’t get the job? Oh, tough luck__
8. tough shit__ spoken not polite used when you do not have any sympathy for someone’s problems
9. VIOLENT PERSON likely to behave violently and having no gentle qualities:
one of football’s most notorious tough guys
tough young thugs looking for trouble
10. FOOD difficult to cut or eat
OPP tender:
The meat was tough and hard to chew.
the tough outer leaves of the cabbage
11. tough love a way of helping someone to change their behaviour by treating them in a kind but strict way
—toughly adverb
—toughness noun [uncountable]
tough2 verb
tough something ↔ out phrasal verb
to deal with a difficult situation by being determined, rather than leaving or changing your decision:
She told herself to be brave and tough it out.
tough3 noun [countable]
old-fashioned someone who often behaves in a violent way
tough4 adverbin a way that shows you are very determined:
Washington played tough in the second half of the game.
You’re talking tough now but you wait until you get into the interview.
| I |
adjective (comparative tougher, superlative toughest) Language: Old English
Origin: toh
1. DIFFICULT difficult to do or deal with:Origin: toh
have a tough time (of it) (=face a lot of difficult problems)
it’s tough doing something
be tough on somebody (=cause problems for someone or make their life difficult)
when the going gets tough (the tough get going) informal (=used to say that when a situation becomes difficult, strong people take the necessary action to deal with it)
2. STRONG PERSON physically or emotionally strong and able to deal with difficult situations:
tough cookie/customer informal (=someone who is very determined to do what they want and not what other people want)
as tough as nails/as tough as old boots (=very tough)
3. STRONG MATERIAL not easily broken or made weaker:
4. STRICT/FIRM very strict or firm
tough on/with
5. VIOLENT AREA a tough part of a town has a lot of crime or violence
tough neighborhood/area/part of town etc
6. tough__/that’s tough__ spoken used when you do not have any sympathy with someone:
7. tough luck__ spoken
a. used when you do not have any sympathy for someone’s problems:
b. British English used when you feel sympathy about something bad that has happened to someone:
8. tough shit__ spoken not polite used when you do not have any sympathy for someone’s problems
9. VIOLENT PERSON likely to behave violently and having no gentle qualities:
10. FOOD difficult to cut or eat
OPP tender:
11. tough love a way of helping someone to change their behaviour by treating them in a kind but strict way
—toughly adverb
—toughness noun [uncountable]
| II |
verbtough something ↔ out phrasal verb
to deal with a difficult situation by being determined, rather than leaving or changing your decision:
| III |
noun [countable]old-fashioned someone who often behaves in a violent way
| IV |
adverbin a way that shows you are very determined: Eating out 去餐馆吃饭
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant在一家餐馆吃（午／晚）饭／进餐／碰面 go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal去／带某人去（外面）吃午饭／吃晚饭／用餐 have a meal with sb与某人一起吃饭 make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)（以山田的名字）预订座位 reserve/ ( especially
BrE book a table for six预订一张坐六人的桌子 ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window要一张两人桌／靠窗的桌子
In the restaurant 在餐馆
wait to be seated等待就座 show sb to their table把某人引到桌旁 sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter坐在角落／窗边／吧台边／柜台边 hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list把菜单／酒水单递给某人 open/read/study/peruse the menu打开／看／仔细看菜单 the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list这餐馆有一个三道菜的套餐／儿童菜单／丰富的酒水单 taste/sample/try the wine品尝葡萄酒 the waiter takes your order服务生帮你点餐 order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house( speciality/BrE ( specialtyespecially
NAmE 点当日例汤／一道特色菜／餐馆特色菜 serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee端上／吃完第一道菜／开胃菜／主菜／甜点；端上／喝完咖啡 complain about the food/the service/your meal抱怨食物／服务／饭菜不好 enjoy your meal享用饭菜
Paying 结账
pay/ask for ( the bill/especially
BrE ( the checkNAmE 付账；要求结账 pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal付晚饭／午饭／饭钱；请某人吃晚饭／午饭／饭 service is (not) included 不含服务费 give sb/leave (sb) a tip给某人小费
Eating out 去餐馆吃饭
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant在一家餐馆吃（午／晚）饭／进餐／碰面 go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal去／带某人去（外面）吃午饭／吃晚饭／用餐 have a meal with sb与某人一起吃饭 make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)（以山田的名字）预订座位 reserve/ ( especially
BrE book a table for six预订一张坐六人的桌子 ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window要一张两人桌／靠窗的桌子
In the restaurant 在餐馆
wait to be seated等待就座 show sb to their table把某人引到桌旁 sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter坐在角落／窗边／吧台边／柜台边 hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list把菜单／酒水单递给某人 open/read/study/peruse the menu打开／看／仔细看菜单 the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list这餐馆有一个三道菜的套餐／儿童菜单／丰富的酒水单 taste/sample/try the wine品尝葡萄酒 the waiter takes your order服务生帮你点餐 order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house( speciality/BrE ( specialtyespecially
NAmE 点当日例汤／一道特色菜／餐馆特色菜 serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee端上／吃完第一道菜／开胃菜／主菜／甜点；端上／喝完咖啡 complain about the food/the service/your meal抱怨食物／服务／饭菜不好 enjoy your meal享用饭菜
Paying 结账
pay/ask for ( the bill/especially
BrE ( the checkNAmE 付账；要求结账 pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal付晚饭／午饭／饭钱；请某人吃晚饭／午饭／饭 service is (not) included 不含服务费 give sb/leave (sb) a tip给某人小费
especially
