tough

adj.

困难 difficult

1. 艰苦的；艰难的；棘手的
   having or causing problems or difficulties
   1. a tough childhood
      苦难的童年
   2. It was a tough decision to make.
      那是个很难作的决定。
   3. She's been having a tough time of it (= a lot of problems) lately.
      她最近的日子一直很难熬。
   4. He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far.
      他面临迄今为止对自己的领导工作最严峻的考验。
   5. It can be tough trying to juggle a career and a family.
      要事业家庭两不误，有时会很艰难。

严格；坚定 strict/firm

2. 严厉的；强硬的；无情的
   demanding that particular rules be obeyed and showing a lack of sympathy for any problems or suffering that this may cause
   1. Don't be too tough on him─he was only trying to help.
      别对他要求过严，他只是想帮忙。
   2. It's about time teachers started to get tough with bullies.
      现在教师该对横行霸道的学生开始采取严厉措施了。
   3. The school takes a tough line on (= punishes severely) cheating.
      学校对作弊行为的惩罚很严厉。

强壮 strong

3. 坚强的；健壮的；能吃苦耐劳的；坚韧不拔的
   strong enough to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
   1. a tough breed of cattle
      健壮型的牛
   2. He's not tough enough for a career in sales.
      他干推销这一行缺少足够的韧劲。
   3. She's a tough cookie/customer (= sb who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people) .
      她是个有主见的人。
4. 彪悍的；粗暴的；粗野的
   physically strong and likely to be violent
   1. You think you're so tough, don't you?
      你以为自己够厉害的，是不是？
   2. He plays the tough guy in the movie.
      他在电影中扮演硬汉。

肉 meat

5. 难切开的；嚼不烂的；老的
   difficult to cut or chew

不易损坏 not easily damaged

6. 坚固的；不易切开（或打破、撕破等）的
   not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.
   1. a tough pair of shoes
      一双结实的鞋子
   2. The reptile's skin is tough and scaly.
      这种爬行动物的皮肤坚韧并带有鳞片。

不幸 unfortunate

7. 不幸的；倒霉的
   unfortunate for sb in a way that seems unfair
   1. It was tough on her being dropped from the team like that.
      她就这样被队里刷了下来，真是倒霉。
   2. ‘I can't get it finished in time.’ ‘Tough! (= I don't feel sorry about it.) ’
      “我无法按时完成。”“活该倒霉！”

noun

1. 粗暴的人；暴徒；恶棍
   a person who regularly uses violence against other people

verb

verb

1. ADJ-GRADED 坚强的;吃苦耐劳的;坚韧不拔的
   A tough person is strong and determined, and can tolerate difficulty or suffering.
   1. He built up a reputation as a tough businessman...
      他树立了铁面生意人的名声。
   2. She is tough and ambitious.
      她坚韧顽强，满怀抱负。
2. ADJ-GRADED 粗野的;粗暴的
   If you describe someone as tough, you mean that they are rough and violent.
   1. He had shot three people dead earning himself a reputation as a tough guy.
      他因枪杀三人得到了暴徒的恶名。
   2. A tough is a tough person.
      粗暴的人;暴徒;恶棍
   3. Three burly toughs elbowed their way to the front.
      三个膀粗腰圆的恶汉挤到了前面。
3. ADJ-GRADED 治安很差的；充满犯罪与暴力的
   A tough place or area is considered to have a lot of crime and violence.
   1. She doesn't seem cut out for this tough neighbourhood...
      她似乎不适合在这个治安恶劣的社区生活。
   2. Arthur grew up in a tough city.
      阿瑟在一个到处是暴力与犯罪的城市长大。
4. ADJ-GRADED 艰难的;困苦的;难熬的
   A tough way of life or period of time is difficult or full of suffering.
   1. She had a pretty tough childhood…
      她的童年非常不幸。
   2. It's been a tough day…
      这是难熬的一天。
   3. He was having a really tough time at work.
      他当时工作上困难重重。
5. ADJ-GRADED 棘手的;难办的;难解决的
   A tough task or problem is difficult to do or solve.
   1. It was a very tough decision but we feel we made the right one...
      这是个困难的决定，但是我们认为我们做出了正确的选择。
   2. Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job getting the economy back on its feet…
      不管是谁赢得选举都将面对复苏经济的棘手任务。
   3. It may be tough to raise cash…
      筹措现金可能不好办。
   4. Change is often tough to deal with.
      变化总是很难应对。
6. ADJ-GRADED (政策或行动)强硬的，严厉的
   Tough policies or actions are strict and firm.
   1. He is known for taking a tough line on security...
      他因在安全问题上采取强硬路线而闻名。
   2. He announced tough measures to limit the money supply.
      他公布了限制货币供应的严厉措施。
7. ADJ-GRADED 坚固的;坚韧的;牢固的
   A tough substance is strong, and difficult to break, cut, or tear.
   1. In industry, diamond can form a tough, non-corrosive coating for tools.
      在工业上，金刚石可以用作工具表面坚固、耐腐蚀的覆盖层。
   2. …dark brown beans with a rather tough outer skin.
      有着相当坚韧外壳的深棕色豆类
8. ADJ-GRADED (肉)非常老的，切不下的，嚼不动的
   Tough meat is difficult to cut and chew.
   1. The steak was tough and the peas were like bullets.
      牛排老得嚼不动，豌豆像子弹一样硬。
9. PHRASE 不泄气;坚持不懈
   If someone who is trying to achieve something hangs tough, they remain determined and do not give up, even when there are difficulties or problems.
   1. The White House is hanging tough for a good agreement to be reached.
      白宫为达成一项有利协议寸步不让。
10. a tough row to hoe → see: hoe

1. He is used to tough defenders, and he usually gets the better of them.
   他习惯了彪悍的后卫，通常都能战而胜之。
2. The president's tough line is, however, buttressed by a democratic mandate.
   然而，总统推行的强硬路线受到了民主党发布的训令的支持。
3. The tough new law should act as a deterrent.
   这项严厉的新法将起到威慑作用。
4. He argued that the economic recovery had been facilitated by his tough stance.
   他认为他的强硬立场推动了经济的复苏。
5. The tough market would lead to 400 jobs being cut in the first half of this year.
   市场形势严峻，将导致今年上半年400个职位的削减。
6. Once a tough defensive team, the Saints now have the most porous defence in the league.
   圣徒队一度防御能力很强，现在却成了联盟里防守漏洞最多的队伍。
7. I don't have any romantic notions about having a baby. It's a really tough job.
   我对生孩子并没有抱任何幻想。这的确是件很不容易的事情。
8. She's had a really tough time the last year and a half
   这一年半以来，她度过了一段非常艰难的时期。
9. He built up a reputation as a tough businessman
   他树立了铁面生意人的名声。
10. She is tough and ambitious.
    她坚韧顽强，满怀抱负。
11. He had shot three people dead earning himself a reputation as a tough guy.
    他因枪杀三人得到了暴徒的恶名。
12. She doesn't seem cut out for this tough neighbourhood
    她似乎不适合在这个治安恶劣的社区生活。
13. Arthur grew up in a tough city.
    阿瑟在一个到处是暴力与犯罪的城市长大。
14. She had a pretty tough childhood
    她的童年非常不幸。
15. It's been a tough day
    这是难熬的一天。
16. He was having a really tough time at work.
    他当时工作上困难重重。
17. It was a very tough decision but we feel we made the right one
    这是个困难的决定，但是我们认为我们做出了正确的选择。
18. Whoever wins the election is going to have a tough job getting the economy back on its feet
    不管是谁赢得选举都将面对复苏经济的棘手任务。
19. It may be tough to raise cash
    筹措现金可能不好办。
20. He is known for taking a tough line on security
    他因在安全问题上采取强硬路线而闻名。
21. He announced tough measures to limit the money supply.
    他公布了限制货币供应的严厉措施。
22. In industry, diamond can form a tough, non-corrosive coating for tools.
    在工业上，金刚石可以用作工具表面坚固、耐腐蚀的覆盖层。
23. dark brown beans with a rather tough outer skin.
    有着相当坚韧外壳的深棕色豆类
24. The steak was tough and the peas were like bullets.
    牛排老得嚼不动，豌豆像子弹一样硬。
25. The White House is hanging tough for a good agreement to be reached.
    白宫为达成一项有利协议寸步不让。
26. We'll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.
    在即将到来的选举中，我们将面临一场恶斗。
27. He'll never pay up unless you get tough with him.
    你如果不对他硬点，他是决不会把钱付清的。
28. The eggs are overcooked [ too tough].
    鸡蛋煮老了。
29. He is a yellow-bellied guy; don't send him on such a tough assignment!
    他是个胆小的，不要给他这么艰难的工作。
30. The enemy resorted to both tough and soft tactics, but succeeded in neither.
    敌人的高压和软化政策都失败了。

  difficult arduous hard tough【导航词义：困难的】

  difficult adj. 困难的，不易的

〔辨析〕指因需要努力或技巧而难以做成、理解或处理的。

  arduous adj. 费力的，艰巨的

〔辨析〕尤指在一段时间内需耗费大量体力和精力才能完成的。

  hard adj. 困难的，艰难的

〔辨析〕指事情不好理解、处理或不容易做的。

  tough adj. 难办的，棘手的，费力的

〔辨析〕因存在或将会引发问题等而难以完成或处理的，尤指在情感上难以抉择的。

tough sth↔out

1. 坚持；挨过
   to stay firm and determined in a difficult situation

adj.

(as) tough as old boots

(as) tough as nails

• 很强壮；坚韧不拔；雷打不动
  very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
• 铁石心肠；不为所动
  not feeling or showing any emotion

tough luck

• （表示同情）倒霉，不走运
  used to show sympathy for sth unfortunate that has happened to sb
  1. ‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’
     “我差一分没及格。”“运气真不好。”
• （表面上同情）多么倒霉
  used to show that you do not feel sorry for sb who has a problem
  1. ‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’
     “如果你把车开走，我就出不去了。”“多倒霉啊！”

a hard/tough act to follow

• 令人望尘莫及的人
  a person who is so good or successful at sth that it will be difficult for anyone else coming after them to be as good or successful

when the going gets tough (the tough get going)

• 当条件变得艰苦时，当进展变得困难时（隐含有志者更勇往直前之意）
  when conditions or progress become difficult (strong and determined people work even harder to succeed)

hang tough

• 立场坚定；态度坚决
  to be determined and refuse to change your attitude or ideas

a hard/tough nut

• 难对付的人；难说服的人
  a person who is difficult to deal with or to influence

talk tough (on sth)

• 强硬地说；强烈地要求
  to tell people very strongly what you want

noun

1. a cruel and brutal fellow

   Synonym:    bullyhooliganruffianroughneckrowdyyobyoboyobbo

2. an aggressive and violent young criminal

   Synonym:    hoodhoodlumgoonpunkthugtoughiestrong-armer

3. someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing

   Synonym:    street fighter

adj

1. feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad')
   1. my throat feels bad
   2. she felt bad all over
   3. he was feeling tough after a restless night

   Synonym:    bad

2. substantially made or constructed
   1. sturdy steel shelves
   2. sturdy canvas
   3. a tough all-weather fabric
   4. some plastics are as tough as metal

   Synonym:    sturdy

3. making great mental demands
   1. a baffling problem
   2. I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast
   3. a problematic situation at home

   Synonym:    bafflingelusiveknottyproblematicproblematical

4. very difficult
   1. a rugged competitive examination
   2. the rugged conditions of frontier life
   3. the competition was tough
   4. it's a tough life
   5. it was a tough job

   Synonym:    rugged

5. unfortunate or hard to bear
   1. had hard luck
   2. a tough break

   Synonym:    hard

6. resistant to cutting or chewing

7. physically toughened
   1. the tough bottoms of his feet

   Synonym:    toughened

8. not given to gentleness or sentimentality
   1. a tough character

9. violent and lawless
   1. the more ruffianly element
   2. tough street gangs

   Synonym:    ruffianly