tough
gb/tˈʌf/ us/tˈʌf/
A2
English
~ 2300
nehéz, kemény, szívós, rágós, strapabíró, lelkileg erős, bírja a gyűrődést
A2
1
Usage pattern:
a tough [task/problem/decision]
Climbing that mountain was a tough challenge.
Megmászni azt a hegyet kemény kihívás volt.
It was a tough decision to leave my hometown.
Nehéz döntés volt elhagyni a szülővárosomat.
The exam was tougher than I expected.
She faced a tough situation at work.
This is a tough problem to solve.
Learner examples
This is a tough job.
Ez nehéz munka.
It is a tough test.
Ez egy nehéz teszt.
He has a tough choice.
That was a tough game.
She had a tough day.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' with 'rough' when describing difficulty. 'Rough' often refers to physical texture or harsh conditions, while 'tough' here means difficult.
Meaning
Hard to do or manage
Collocations
tough decision
|tough choice
|tough problem
|tough situation
Synonyms
difficult (More general; lacks the connotation of personal endurance often implied by 'tough'.)
Antonyms
easy (Indicates something that requires little effort, the opposite of tough in this sense.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Needing a lot of work or strength to do.
Requiring a lot of effort, skill, or determination to do or handle.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a tough [person/athlete/soldier]
The boxer is known for being incredibly tough.
A bokszoló köztudottan hihetetlenül szívós.
She’s a tough competitor who never gives up.
Szívós versenyző, aki soha nem adja fel.
These boots are tough enough for hiking in rocky terrain.
He proved how tough he was during military training.
Our team needs some tough players.
Learner examples
He is a tough man.
Szívós ember.
She is a tough runner.
Szívós futó.
This bag is tough.
The dog is tough and strong.
My shoes are tough for long walks.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'tough' for all strong people; in some contexts 'strong' may be more natural if endurance is not implied.
Meaning
Physically strong and resilient
Collocations
tough guy
|tough soldier
|tough competitor
Synonyms
strong (General term for physical power; 'tough' also implies endurance and resilience.)
Antonyms
weak (Lacking physical strength or endurance.)
Themes
people
|sports
|health
|body
Definition
Strong and able to keep going in hard situations.
Physically strong and able to withstand hardship, pain, or damage.
A2
3
Usage pattern:
tough [meat/material]
The steak was overcooked and very tough.
A steak túlsült, és nagyon rágós volt.
This leather is tough and will last for years.
Ez a bőr strapabíró, és évekig kitart.
The bread had gone stale and was tough to eat.
Her jacket is made from a tough fabric.
These ropes are made from a tough synthetic fiber.
Learner examples
The meat is tough.
A hús rágós.
My shoes are made from tough leather.
A cipőm strapabíró bőrből készült.
This bread is tough now.
The steak is too tough to eat.
The rope is tough and strong.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tough' here with 'hard' meaning difficult; here it refers to physical texture.
Meaning
Hard to chew or cut
Collocations
tough meat
|tough steak
|tough fabric
Synonyms
chewy (Emphasizes the need for prolonged chewing; often less negative than 'tough'.)
Antonyms
tender (Soft and easy to cut or chew.)
Themes
food
|materials
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
Hard and not easy to chew or cut.
Difficult to cut, chew, or break due to hardness or firmness.
B1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
a tough [person/kid/woman]
She’s been through a lot, but she’s tough.
Sok mindenen ment keresztül, de lelkileg erős.
You have to be tough to work in that industry.
Lelkileg erősnek kell lenni ahhoz, hogy az ember abban az iparágban dolgozzon.
He’s a tough negotiator who doesn’t back down easily.
The coach wants players who are mentally tough.
Growing up in poverty made her tough.
Learner examples
She is a tough woman.
Lelkileg erős nő.
He is a tough boy.
Lelkileg erős fiú.
My dad is a tough man.
You need to be tough for this job.
She stayed tough after the bad news.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse emotional toughness with rudeness; being 'tough' here means strong, not unfriendly.
Meaning
Emotionally strong and resilient
Collocations
tough kid
|tough survivor
|tough negotiator
Synonyms
resilient ('Resilient' focuses on recovery from setbacks; 'tough' suggests enduring without breaking.)
Antonyms
sensitive (Easily affected emotionally, unlike someone described as 'tough'.)
Themes
emotions
|people
|health
Definition
Able to stay strong when bad things happen.
Able to deal with stress, pain, or difficult situations without becoming upset or giving up.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tough
IPA
GB/tˈʌf/
US/tˈʌf/
Syllables & stress
tough (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tough)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tough
- Comparative: tougher
- Superlative: toughest
Word family
Forms
tougher
adjective
toughest
adjective
Core family
toughness
noun B2
toughen
verb
Related words
toughie
noun
Expressions
a tough break
1/ə tˈʌf bɹˈeɪk/
idiom
informal
An unlucky setback or misfortune
Something bad that happens that makes life harder for someone.
Examples
- It’s a tough break that you missed the train by just one minute.
- Getting injured before the final game was a real tough break.
a tough call
1/ə tˈʌf kˈɔl/
fixed phrase
A hard decision between options
A choice that is hard to make because both options are difficult or good in different ways.
Examples
- Choosing between the two job offers was a tough call.
- It’s a tough call, but I think we should wait.
as tough as nails
1/ˈæz tˈʌf ˈæz nˈeɪlz/
idiom
informal
Very strong and hardy person
Very strong and able to keep going without showing weakness or fear.
Examples
- Don’t be fooled by her size—she’s as tough as nails.
- He’s as tough as nails after years in the army.
hang tough
1/hˈæŋ tˈʌf/
idiom
informal
Stay determined under pressure
To keep going and not give up when things are hard.
Examples
- Even when the team was losing badly, they managed to hang tough until the end.
- You just have to hang tough through these difficult times.