Meaning of tough In English

• 0 strong; not easily broken or made weaker:

  • These toys are made from tough plastic.

  • Children's shoes need to be tough.

  • You have to be tough to be successful in politics.

  • Even tough guys need to cry sometimes.

  • informal Their lawyer is a real tough customer (= person).

  • Tough new safety standards have been introduced for cars.

  • There have been calls for tougher controls/restrictions on what online retailers are allowed to sell.

  • I think it's time the police got tougher on/with (= treated more severely) people who drink and drive.

  • The government is continuing to take a tough line on terrorism.

• 1 difficult to do or to deal with:

  • They've had an exceptionally tough life.

  • They will be a tough team to beat.

  • The company is going through a tough time at the moment.

  • We've had to make some very tough decisions.

  • My boss has given me a tough job/assignment.

  • Many homeless people are facing a tough winter.

  • After some tough bargaining, we finally agreed on a deal.

• 2 Tough food is difficult to cut or eat:

  • This steak is very tough.

  • These apples have tough skins.

• 3 likely to be violent or to contain violence; not kind or pleasant:

  • a tough neighbourhood

  • Many of the country's toughest criminals are held in this prison.

• 4 unlucky:

  • "I have to work late today because I'm very behind on my work." "Oh, tough luck!"

  • It's tough on Geoff that he's going to miss the party.

  • "I don't have any money left." "Well, (that's just) tough - you shouldn't have spent it all on cigarettes."

• 5 a violent person:

  • Bands of armed toughs roamed the city.

• 6 not easily broken, weakened, or defeated; strong:

  • These toys are made of tough plastic.

  • You have to be tough to be successful in politics.

  • The police are getting tougher on illegal parking.

  • Tough new safety standards for cars are being introduced this week.

• 7 difficult to do or deal with:

  • They will be a tough team to beat.

  • We’ve had to make some very tough decisions.

  • It’s going to be a tough winter.

  • a tough steak

• 8 likely to be violent or to contain violence:

  • a tough guy

  • a tough neighborhood