tough-skinned
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Insensitive to criticism: Able to withstand or not be easily upset by negative comments, disapproval, or verbal attacks.
- Having a relatively tough outer covering: Possessing a skin, rind, or exterior that is physically thick, hard, or resistant to damage.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Insensitive to criticism):
- You need to be tough-skinned to work in politics.
- She was tough-skinned enough to ignore the online trolls.
- Adjective (Having a tough outer covering):
- The fruit is tough-skinned and difficult to peel.
- Tough-skinned animals like armadillos have natural armor.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: Often used to describe a person's emotional resilience or a company's ability to endure market pressures.
- The start-up became tough-skinned after surviving its first major crisis.
- Comparative and Superlative Forms: "tougher-skinned", "toughest-skinned".
- Of all the interns, he was the toughest-skinned when receiving feedback.
Variants and Related Words
- Thick-skinned (adj): Very similar in meaning, especially regarding insensitivity to criticism. ("Thick-skinned" is a more common variant for the figurative sense).
- Toughness (n): The quality of being tough, either physically or mentally.
- Callous (adj): Can be a synonym for emotional insensitivity, but often implies a more unfeeling or cruel disregard.
Synonyms
- For "insensitive to criticism": Thick-skinned, resilient, hardened, impervious, unflappable.
- For "having a tough outer covering": Leathery, rugged, durable, hardy, armored.
Related Phrases
- To develop a thick/tough skin: To become less sensitive to criticism over time.
- Working in customer service helped her develop a tough skin.
- Tough hide: A phrase with a very similar meaning, comparing someone's resilience to the tough skin of an animal.
- He has a tough hide; insults just bounce off him.
Adjective
- insensitive to criticism
- having a relatively tough outer covering