# toughen up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/toughen-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To make or become mentally tougher.

## Examples

- You need to toughen up if you want to play this sport.
- The coach told the players to toughen up after they complained about the difficult training session.
- Facing the harsh realities of the industry, she realized she had to toughen up to survive in such a competitive environment.

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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.