ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tough as nails

idiom
Meaning

Having a hard, strong, and determined mindset.


Examples
SIMPLE

My grandmother is tough as nails.

CONTEXTUAL

Even after the company fired her, she remained tough as nails and started her own business the next day.

COMPLEX

The veteran commander was known to be tough as nails, having endured decades of hardship without ever losing his resolve or his focus.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bite one's nails

    To worry or fret over something.

  2. 02

    do it tough

    To be in a desperate situation; to struggle.

  3. 03

    hang tough

    To remain strong-willed or brave, especially when experiencing duress or adversity.

  4. 04

    hard as nails

    Very unsympathetic; callous

  5. 05

    spit nails

    To speak or sputter in a very angry manner.

  6. 06

    squint like a bag of nails

    To squint very much, as though one's eyes were directed as many ways as the points of a bag of nails.

  7. 07

    tough break

    A situation resulting in misfortune or hardship; an instance of bad luck.

  8. 08

    tough call

    A choice or judgment which is difficult to make, especially one involving only two alternatives.

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