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hard to please

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Explanation of "Hard to Please"

Definition:
The phrase "hard to please" is an adjective used to describe a person who is difficult to satisfy or who has very high standards. This means that no matter what you do for them, they are often not happy or satisfied.

Advanced Usage

In more complex sentences, you might say: - Despite the chef's efforts to impress, the food critic was hard to please, often finding faults even in the most exquisite dishes.

Word Variants
  • Hardness (noun): The quality of being hard or difficult.
  • Pleasing (adjective): Something that brings joy or satisfaction.
  • Please (verb): To make someone happy or satisfied.
Different Meanings
  • The phrase "hard to please" specifically refers to people who are difficult to satisfy. However, "hard" and "please" can have different meanings when used separately:
    • Hard: Can mean tough, solid, or difficult.
    • Please: To express a desire for someone to be happy.
Synonyms
  • Difficult to satisfy
  • Picky
  • Finicky
  • Hard to impress
  • Fussy
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While there may not be direct idioms that mean exactly "hard to please," related phrases include: - "To be a tough nut to crack": This means someone is difficult to understand or please. - "To split hairs": This means to make fine or overly subtle distinctions, often in a way that makes it difficult to satisfy someone.

Summary

When you describe someone as "hard to please," you are indicating that they have high standards and are often not easily satisfied.

Adjective
  1. (of persons) "his father was a hard-to-please taskmaster"
    • was very hard to please

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