
A hard/tough nut
Figurative Use
Used metaphorically to denote something very challenging, not literally a tough nut.

Quantum physics is a tough nut to crack for many students.
Not Literally Hard
'Hard' signifies complexity or resistance, not physical hardness.

The riddle she posed was a truly hard nut to crack.
Common Collocations
Often used with 'crack', suggesting the effort to understand or solve something.

Understanding the tax code can be a hard nut to crack.
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