toughie
Học thuậtThân thiện
A student scratches their head while trying to solve a toughie on a math test.
Definition
- Noun:
- A particularly difficult or baffling question or problem: A "toughie" is an informal term for something that is very hard to solve, answer, or understand.
- An aggressive and violent young criminal: In slang, a "toughie" can also refer to a tough, aggressive person, often a young delinquent or criminal.
Usage Examples
- Noun (difficult problem):
- The final question on the exam was a real toughie.
- Figuring out how to fix the engine without the manual is a toughie.
- Noun (aggressive person):
- The gang was led by a local toughie.
- He used to be a neighborhood toughie, but he's reformed now.
Advanced Usage
- "That's a toughie": A common spoken phrase used to acknowledge that a question is difficult to answer.
- "Should I take the job in another city or stay close to family?" "Wow, that's a toughie."
Variants and Related Words
- Tough (adj/n): The base adjective meaning difficult or strong, and a noun for a rough person.
- It was a tough decision. (adj)
- He's a real tough. (n)
- Toughness (n): The quality of being tough.
Synonyms
- Noun (problem): Stumper, brain-teaser, poser, challenge.
- Noun (person): Thug, hoodlum, bruiser, delinquent.
Related Idioms
- A tough nut to crack: A very difficult problem or a person who is hard to deal with or understand. This idiom is closely related in meaning to the "problem" sense of "toughie."
- This math equation is a tough nut to crack.
- The new boss is a tough nut to crack.
A student scratches their head while trying to solve a toughie on a math test.
Noun
- a particularly difficult or baffling question or problem
- an aggressive and violent young criminal