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A hard/tough nut

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Figurative Use

Used metaphorically to denote something very challenging, not literally a tough nut.

Illustration for Figurative Use
Quantum physics is a tough nut to crack for many students.
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Not Literally Hard

'Hard' signifies complexity or resistance, not physical hardness.

Illustration for Not Literally Hard
The riddle she posed was a truly hard nut to crack.
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Common Collocations

Often used with 'crack', suggesting the effort to understand or solve something.

Illustration for Common Collocations
Understanding the tax code can be a hard nut to crack.
Visual representation of the word "A hard/tough nut"

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