# tough case

idiom

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

## Meaning

A person who is difficult to work with.

## Examples

- My new coworker is a tough case.
- I tried to be friendly, but he is a tough case who refuses to cooperate with the team.
- Despite her extensive experience in conflict resolution, she found the client to be a tough case who resisted every reasonable suggestion.

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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.