A hard/tough nut

noun

A problem that is very hard to solve or a person who is difficult to understand.

My math homework is a tough nut to crack.
Visual representation of "a hard/tough nut" - A problem that is very hard to solve or a person who is difficult to understand.

Often appears as...

  • a tough nut to crack
  • a hard nut to crack

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

A person who is difficult to defeat or persuade.

He is a tough nut, it won't be easy to defeat him in the race.
Visual representation of "a hard/tough nut" - A person who is difficult to defeat or persuade.

Often appears as...

  • a tough nut to beat
  • a hard nut to beat

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

A problem that is very hard to solve or a person who is difficult to understand.

My math homework is a tough nut to crack.
Visual representation of "a hard/tough nut" - A problem that is very hard to solve or a person who is difficult to understand.

Often appears as...

  • a tough nut to crack
  • a hard nut to crack

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

A person who is difficult to defeat or persuade.

He is a tough nut, it won't be easy to defeat him in the race.
Visual representation of "a hard/tough nut" - A person who is difficult to defeat or persuade.

Often appears as...

  • a tough nut to beat
  • a hard nut to beat

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "a hard/tough nut"
LampPro Tip 1/3

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.
LampPro Tip 2/3

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.
LampPro Tip 3/3

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.
LampPro Tip 1/3

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.
LampPro Tip 2/3

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.
LampPro Tip 3/3

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.
LampPro Tip 1/3

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.
LampPro Tip 2/3

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.
LampPro Tip 3/3

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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