# tough call

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tough-call
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- Choosing between these two jobs is a tough call.
- It was a tough call, but the manager decided to cancel the project to save money.
- Faced with the prospect of either cutting staff or reducing salaries, the board of directors acknowledged that they were confronting a truly tough call.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.