tough
adjective
uk/tʌf/us/tʌf/toughadjective(STRONG)
B2
strong; noteasilybrokenor madeweaker:
Thesetoysare made from toughplastic.这些玩具是由结实的塑料制成的。
Children'sshoesneed to be tough.童鞋必须结实。
Synonyms
durable
hard(SOLID)
Opposites
delicate(EASILY DAMAGED)
fragile
having a lot of physical or mental strength
- strongHe is a big, strong man.
- strongTwo thirds of voters see him as a strong leader.
- powerfulHe is the most powerful fighter I have seen in a boxing ring.
- muscularHe is tall with a muscular body.
- muscledShe has worked hard to achieve that muscled body.
not breaking easily
- strongYou will need a strong cardboard box to carry all those books.
- toughCeramic tiles are tougher than plastic shower screens.
- sturdyYou'll need sturdy boots for this weather.
- solidYou will need to build a good solid base for your shed.
- hard-wearingCotton canvas is the most hard-wearing fabric.
of aperson,abletodealwithdifficultsituationsand not beeasilydefeated,frightenedorupset:
You have to be tough to besuccessfulinpolitics.要在政界取得成功就必须坚强。
Even toughguysneed tocrysometimes.
informalTheirlawyeris arealtoughcustomer(=person).
C2
severeinlimitingwhat isallowedor inpunishingpeoplewho do notobeyrulesorlaws:
Tough newsafetystandardshave beenintroducedforcars.汽车生产采用了更加严格的新安全标准。
There have beencallsfor toughercontrols/restrictionson whatonlineretailersareallowedtosell.一直有人呼吁要对网上零售商出售的商品种类严加控制／限制。
Ithinkit'stimethepolicegottougheron/with(=treatedmoreseverely)peoplewhodrinkanddrive.我觉得警方该对酒后驾车者采取更加严厉的措施。
Thegovernmentiscontinuingto take a toughlineonterrorism.政府继续对恐怖主义采取强硬的态度。
Synonym
strict
Opposite
lax(NOT CAREFUL)
strict
- strictHer parents were very strict.
- firmI was always very firm with my children.
- take a hard line onThe school takes a hard line on bullying.
- authoritarianThe country was under the rule of an authoritarian leader.
- stringentStringent safety regulations were introduced after the accident.
- I can'teatthismeat- it's too tough.
- Polyurethanevarnishprovidesa tough, scratch-resistantfinish.
- We need amayorwho is tough enough tocleanup thistown.
- You'll need somefairlytoughfootwearto gowalkingupmountains.
- Severalgovernmentshaveadoptedtough newanti-terroristlegislationin thewakeof theattacks.
Physically strong and powerful
- (as) tough as old bootsidiom
- almighty
- beefy
- billy-o
- brute
- burly
- corded
- intensely
- invincible
- invincibly
- invulnerable
- keenly
- lusty
- reckon
- stalwart
- stoutly
- sturdily
- super-powerful
- superhuman
- to be reckoned withidiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Strong-willed
toughadjective(DIFFICULT)
B2
difficultto do or todealwith:
困难的；棘手的They've had anexceptionallytoughlife.他们的一生异常艰苦。
They will be a toughteamtobeat.他们会是一支很难战胜的队伍。
Thecompanyis going through a toughtimeat themoment.公司现在正值困难时期。
We've had to make some very toughdecisions.我们不得不作出了一些很艰难的决定。
Mybosshas given me a toughjob/assignment.我的老板给了我一个棘手的活儿／任务。
Manyhomelesspeoplearefacinga toughwinter.许多无家可归者正面临严冬的考验。
After some toughbargaining, wefinallyagreedon adeal.经过艰苦的讨价还价，我们最终达成了一笔交易。
Synonym
hard(SEVERE)
Opposite
easy(COMFORTABLE)
- It's been a tough sixmonthsand IfeelI'veearneda fewweeksoff.
- We'll have to make some toughdecisions- there are noeasyoptions.
- It's going to be a toughcompetitionbut I'mmentallypreparedfor it.
- Thiscourseis really tough, - sometimes Ifeelinglikepackingit all in.
- Now I'm going toaskyou a really toughquestion- are youready?
Complicated and difficult to do
- advanced
- ambitious
- ambitiously
- another
- arduous
- fierce
- formidable
- formidably
- get blood out of/from a stoneidiom
- grail
- obstinately
- onerous
- overdemanding
- painstaking
- picnic
- tuff
- ultra-sensitive
- unresolved
- unsolved
- unwieldy
toughadjective(FOOD)
B2
Toughfoodisdifficulttocutoreat:
（食物）老的，不易切开的，嚼不动的Thissteakis very tough.这块牛排很不好嚼。
Theseappleshave toughskins.这些苹果的皮很老。
Opposite
tender(SOFT)
Not pleasant to eat or drink
- (as) tough as old bootsidiom
- acrid
- bitter
- bitterness
- bland
- chewy
- dishwater
- insipidly
- insipidness
- like dishwateridiom
- mouldy
- overripe
- pungent
- stale
- staleness
- stick tosomeone'sribsidiom
- stodginess
- stodgy
- unripe
- watery
toughadjective(VIOLENT)
likelyto beviolentor tocontainviolence; notkindorpleasant:
粗鲁的；暴力的；不友善的a toughneighbourhood治安很差的社区
Many of the country's toughestcriminalsareheldin thisprison.这个国家最凶残的罪犯有许多都关在这座监狱里。
Violent or aggressive
- aggressive
- aggressively
- aggressiveness
- aggro
- agonistic
- ferocity
- fierce
- fierceness
- fighting words
- flex
- pugnacious
- pugnacity
- rabble-rousing
- raging
- Rambo
- viciousness
- violence
- warlike
- warmonger
- warmongering
toughadjective(UNLUCKY)
C2informal
unlucky:
不幸的，倒霉的"I have toworklate today because I'm very behind on mywork." "Oh, toughluck!"“我今天必须加班，因为落下了许多活儿。”“哦，真倒霉！”
It's toughonGeoff that he's going tomisstheparty.杰弗真倒霉，他要错过这次聚会了。
resulting in bad things happening by chance
- unluckyAn unlucky bounce led to the winning goal against the home team.
- unfortunateNo one was to blame - it was just an unfortunate accident.
- ill-fatedSeven crew members were killed on the ill-fated voyage.
- ill-starredHis ill-starred reign began with a famine and ended with civil war.
informal
sometimes used to show that you have nosympathyfor someone'sproblemsordifficulties:
活该（表示不同情）"I don't have anymoneyleft." "Well, (that'sjust) tough - you shouldn't havespentit all oncigarettes."“我的钱都花光了。”“哼，活该——你不该把钱都拿来买烟。”
Good luck and bad luck
- align
- bad/hard/tough luck!idiom
- be bad luck onsomeoneidiom
- be down onyourluckidiom
- be in/out of luckidiom
- blessing
- fortune smiles onsomeoneidiom
- get the short end of the stickidiom
- godsend
- grace
- hapless
- merciful
- mercifully
- mercy
- miracle
- misadventure
- shame
- streak
- with any luckidiom
- your luck's in!idiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Expressions meaning 'it isn't important to me'
Idioms
it's tough at the top
(as) tough as old boots
tough luck
tough
noun[C]
old-fashionedinformaluk/tʌf/us/tʌf/(alsotoughie)aviolentperson:
粗暴的人；暴徒Bands ofarmedtoughsroamedthecity.几群持有武器的暴徒在这座城市里游荡。
Synonyms
hoodlumold-fashioned
hooligan
ruffianold-fashionedorhumorous
thug
yobUKinformal
- There are someprettytoughchildrenin hisclass.
- Heworkedfor agroupof toughmasters.
- Hisbosseswere really tough.