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tough out

 - 3 dictionary results

tough

  [tuhf] ,adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun, verb
Use tough out in a Sentence
–adjective
1. strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.
2. not brittle or tender.
3. difficult to masticate, as food: a tough steak.
4. of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter: tough molasses.
5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy: tough troops.
6. not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn: a tough man to work for.
7. hardened; incorrigible: a tough criminal.
8. difficult to perform, accomplish, or deal with; hard, trying, or troublesome: a tough problem.
9. hard to bear or endure (often used ironically): tough luck.
10. vigorous; severe; violent: a tough struggle.
11. vicious; rough; rowdyish: a tough character; a tough neighborhood.
12. practical, realistic, and lacking in sentimentality; tough-minded.
13. Slang. remarkably excellent; first-rate; great.
–adverb
14. in a tough manner.
–noun
15. a ruffian; rowdy.
—Idioms
16. hang tough, Slang. hang (def. 56).
17. tough it out, Informal. to endure or resist hardship or adversity.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (adj.); OE tōh; cf. D taai, G zäh(e)

Related forms:
toughly, adverb
toughness, noun

Synonyms:
1. firm, hard. 5. durable. 6. inflexible.

Antonyms:
1. fragile. 5. feeble, weak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Slang Dictionary
tough (sth) out

  1. tv.
    to carry on with something despite difficulties or setbacks. : I think I can tough it out for another month.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

tough 
O.E. toh "difficult to break or chew," from P.Gmc. *tankhuz (cf. M.L.G. tege, M.Du. taey, Du. taai, O.H.G. zach, Ger. zäh). See rough for spelling change. Fig. sense of "strenuous, difficult, hard to beat" is first recorded c.1205; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1619. The noun meaning "street ruffian" (U.S.) is from 1866. Toughen is attested from 1582. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, Amer.Eng. Tough guy first recorded 1932. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit is from 1946.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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