tougher
tougher — adjective
- tougherpositive
- tougherercomparative
- tougherestsuperlative
1. able to withstand force, wear, or rough treatment without breaking, tearing, or
able to withstand force, wear, or rough treatment without breaking, tearing, or becoming damaged
Anjali's tough leather boots lasted through three winters of heavy snow.
collocation: tough leather / tough boots
The tent fabric was tough enough to survive the hailstorm without a single tear.
Bao needed a tough pair of gloves for handling the thorny rose bushes.
The suitcase is made from a tough plastic that resists scratches and drops.
We bought a tough garden hose that won't split when the water pressure rises.
用法筆記
Used for materials and objects, not for people. For a person who endures hardship, see sense 2.
2. able to handle pain, difficulty, or pressure without giving up or falling apart
able to handle pain, difficulty, or pressure without giving up or falling apart emotionally
Baraka stayed calm during the crisis because he is one of the toughest people I know.
one of the toughest + noun
Nurses in the emergency room have to be tough to cope with the stress every shift.
Eitan grew up in a war zone, which made him tougher than most of his classmates.
Madison didn't cry after losing the final — she is remarkably tough for a young athlete.
You need to be tough if you want to work in search and rescue during disasters.
用法筆記
Often used approvingly to describe someone who handles pressure with strength. Contrast with sense 6 (VIOLENT OR ROUGH), where 'tough' describes aggressive behaviour rather than inner resilience.
常見錯誤
3. demanding obedience and imposing harsh penalties on those who break the rules
demanding obedience and imposing harsh penalties on those who break the rules
The new principal introduced tough rules about mobile phones in the classroom.
collocation: tough rules
Wren believes the government needs tougher penalties for companies that pollute rivers.
Judge Nakamura handed down a tough sentence of fifteen years for the fraud case.
Gita's parents were tough on her about finishing homework before any screen time.
The city passed tough anti-smoking laws that ban lighting up even in outdoor cafés.
用法筆記
Subject is usually an authority figure, institution, or rule. Contrast with sense 2 (RESILIENT PERSON), where 'tough' describes personal endurance rather than imposing limits on others.
4. presenting a problem or situation that needs great effort, patience, or courage
presenting a problem or situation that needs great effort, patience, or courage to get through
The driving test was tougher than Nellie expected, with narrow streets and sudden stops.
Erik faced a tough choice between accepting a job abroad or staying near his ageing parents.
collocation: tough choice
The first year of medical school is incredibly tough, with exams almost every week.
Anong had a tough time learning to walk again after the surgery on both knees.
We had to answer some tough questions from the investors about why sales were dropping.
- challenging
more neutral and slightly more formal; often used positively about tasks that test your abilities
- hard
the most common everyday alternative, interchangeable with 'tough' in most contexts
- demanding
emphasises that something requires a lot of time, energy, or attention
- easy
requiring little effort or presenting no serious problems
- straightforward
simple and clear, without complications or hidden difficulties
用法筆記
Applies to situations, decisions, periods of time, and problems — not to physical objects (sense 1) or food (sense 5).
5. requiring a lot of chewing because the food is fibrous, undercooked, or has been
requiring a lot of chewing because the food is fibrous, undercooked, or has been cooked too long
The steak was so tough that Vinícius had to saw at it with a knife for a full minute.
collocation: tough steak / tough meat
Baraka complained that the chicken breast was dry and tough after sitting under the heat lamp.
Overcooking squid turns it from tender to tough in less than thirty seconds.
Grandma's tough bread rolls tasted fine once we dipped them into the hot soup.
Madison threw away the tough asparagus stalks and only used the tender tips.
用法筆記
Only used for food. When describing non-food materials that are hard to cut (e.g. wood, thick rope), use sense 1 (STRONG AND DURABLE) instead.
常見錯誤
6. aggressive and threatening, with a readiness to use physical force or intimidati
aggressive and threatening, with a readiness to use physical force or intimidation
Eitan grew up on a tough housing estate where fights broke out nearly every weekend.
collocation: tough neighbourhood / tough area
The bar had a reputation for attracting a tough crowd of bikers and ex-convicts.
Bao avoided the tough kids at school who picked on smaller children for lunch money.
The police warned tourists to stay away from the tougher parts of the city at night.
Nellie's older brother acted tough in front of his friends but was gentle at home.
- rough
emphasises a lack of gentleness or polish; can describe both people and places
- aggressive
more direct about the readiness to attack or confront
- menacing
suggests a threatening quality that makes others feel unsafe without always involving actual violence
用法筆記
Describes people, groups, or places where there is a real risk of violence. Distinguish from sense 2 (RESILIENT PERSON), where 'tough' means strong in character rather than physically aggressive.
7. used to describe a situation that is unfair, unlucky, or hard to accept
used to describe a situation that is unfair, unlucky, or hard to accept
It was tough on Anjali when her flight was cancelled and she missed her sister's wedding.
collocation: tough on + person
Losing the championship by a single point in the final second was really tough for the team.
Gita had a tough break when her laptop crashed the night before the thesis was due.
Erik said it was tough luck that the storm hit on the one day they planned the picnic.
The factory closure was tough on the whole town, leaving hundreds without work overnight.
- unlucky
the most direct everyday synonym, but less informal in tone
- unfortunate
more formal; used in writing and polite speech
- harsh
emphasises the severity of the situation's impact rather than the randomness of the bad luck
- lucky
having good fortune or a favourable outcome
用法筆記
Informal register. Most common in the fixed expressions 'tough luck' and 'tough break'. The structure 'tough on + person' is shared with sense 3 (STRICT AND SEVERE), but here the meaning is about bad fortune rather than punishment.
8. an expression telling someone you do not feel sorry for them and that they must
an expression telling someone you do not feel sorry for them and that they must deal with their problem alone
Wren told her brother, 'Tough! You spent your allowance on games, so no cinema money.'
used as a standalone interjection: 'Tough!'
When Mert complained about the late shift, his boss just shrugged and said, 'That's tough.'
The customer demanded a refund for food she had eaten entirely — the waiter replied, 'Tough.'
Anong's coach said 'Tough — you missed practice, now you run two extra laps.'
'It's tough,' the landlord said when Vinícius asked for a lower rent for the damp flat.
用法筆記
Almost always used as a standalone interjection ('Tough!' or 'That's tough!'), never as a descriptive adjective modifying a noun. This is the only sense where 'tough' functions as a complete utterance rather than part of a sentence.
常見錯誤
tougher — noun
- toughersingular
- toughersplural
1. a person who uses physical force or threats, especially someone involved in stre
a person who uses physical force or threats, especially someone involved in street crime or fighting
The alley was guarded by two toughs who demanded money from anyone passing through.
often used with 'young' or 'street' as modifier
Baraka's grandfather told stories about the neighbourhood toughs who ruled the docks in the 1950s.
The film cast Madison as a street tough who eventually turns her life around.
A gang of young toughs smashed the windows of the empty shop on River Road last night.
Eitan was hired as a bouncer because his size scared off the local toughs at the door.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('toughs') to describe a group. 'Street tough' and 'young tough' are the most common collocations.
tougher — adverb
1. in a manner that shows strength, firmness, or a lack of gentleness
in a manner that shows strength, firmness, or a lack of gentleness
The manager spoke tough to the workers who kept arriving late without a valid reason.
used with action verbs: speak tough, play tough, act tough
Bao played tough in the second half, blocking three shots despite a bruised shoulder.
The judge came down tough on the repeat offender, handing out the maximum sentence.
Wren's mother acted tough during the medical consultation, but her hands were trembling.
Nellie talked tough before the debate, but her arguments fell apart on stage.
- gently
in a soft, kind, or careful way
用法筆記
Typically follows a verb of action or communication. 'Talk tough' and 'act tough' are the most frequent patterns. Rare in formal writing.
tougher — verb
- tougherpresent simple I / you / we / they
- toughers3rd person singular
- toughering-ing form
- tougheredpast simple
1. to experience something painful or difficult without giving in or complaining
to experience something painful or difficult without giving in or complaining
Gita had to tough it out through the last three miles of the marathon with a twisted ankle.
pattern: tough it out
The refugees toughed out the winter in a camp with no heating and thin blankets.
Erik decided to tough it through the boring lecture rather than sneak out early.
Vinícius toughed out the nine-hour flight in economy class despite his long legs.
Anjali told her teammates to tough it out — the storm would pass before the final whistle.
- endure
formal; does not carry the informal, gritty tone of 'tough it out'
- grin and bear it
idiom; emphasises accepting something unpleasant with good humour
- stick it out
phrasal verb; emphasises staying until the end rather than enduring pain
文法句型
tough + it + out
tough + out + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'out' in the pattern 'tough it out' or 'tough out + noun'. 'Tough it through' is a less common variant. The verb is rarely used without a particle in modern English.