{
    "term": "tough",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "having or causing problems or difficulties",
            "sensetop": "tough on somebody",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a tough childhood"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was a **tough decision** to make."
                },
                {
                    "text": "During the interview I was asked some really **tough questions**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Now Karen must make one of the **toughest choices** of her life."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's been having **a tough time of it** *(= a lot of problems)* lately."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**Times are tough** at the moment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've got a tough fight ahead."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He faces the toughest test of his leadership so far."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What was the **toughest job** you ever had?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a tough task"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It can be tough trying to juggle a career and a family."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He faces tough competition from the rest of the team."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Puberty can be tough on kids.",
                    "contextForm": "tough on somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I knew she was going to be tough to beat."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He may find it tough to pursue his plans."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The strong dollar has made it tough for small businesses."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Things were pretty tough at first."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's tough out there in the real world."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The next couple of months will be tough, but I'm sure we'll cope."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's very tough on a child to lose a parent like that."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "seem", "get"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"],
                "preposition": ["on"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "demanding that particular rules be obeyed and showing a lack of sympathy for any problems that this may cause",
            "sensetop": "tough with somebody/somethingtough on somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's about time teachers started to **get tough** with bullies.",
                    "contextForm": "tough with somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Politicians believe they have to be **tough on crime**.",
                    "contextForm": "tough on somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't be too tough on him—he was only trying to help."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The school **takes a tough line on** *(= punishes severely)* cheating."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The judge was well known for his **tough stance on** corruption."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**tough** new anti-terror **measures**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Local traders are calling for tougher action against vandals."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Has the government been tough enough on polluters?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government has promised to get tough on crime."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have to be tough with these young thugs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There will be tough new controls on car emissions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We must take a tough stance against terrorism."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Permission and obligation"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "become", "get"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"],
                "preposition": ["on", "with"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "strong enough to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a tough breed of cattle"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's not tough enough for a career in sales."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She’s a **tough cookie/customer** *(= somebody who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Celine is a fighter, a **tough nut**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How mentally tough are you?"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Personal qualities"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["appear", "be", "feel"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "physically strong and likely to be violent",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You think you're so tough, don't you?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He plays the **tough guy** in the movie."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Then this guy started acting tough."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["appear", "be", "feel"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "with a lot of crime or violence",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She grew up in a tough neighbourhood."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "difficult to cut or bite on",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The meat was a bit tough."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Overcooking the burger will make it tough and dry."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Cooking and eating"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a tough pair of shoes"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The reptile's skin is tough and scaly."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "unlucky for somebody in a way that seems unfair",
            "sensetop": "tough (on somebody)",
            "labels": "(informal)(ironic)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It was tough on her being dropped from the team like that."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘I can't get it finished in time.’ ‘Tough! *(= I don't feel sorry about it.)*’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be determined and refuse to change your attitude or ideas",
            "labels": "(North American English, informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a person who is difficult to deal with or to influence",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a difficult problem or situation to deal with",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a person or event that is so good or successful at something that it will be difficult for anyone/anything else coming after them to be as good or successful",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She has been an excellent principal and will be a hard act to follow."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Their contribution will prove a tough act to follow."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to tell people very strongly what you want",
            "labels": "(informal, especially North American English)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She’s almost 90 but she’s still as tough as old boots."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used to show sympathy for somebody that something bad that has happened to",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘I failed by one point.’ ‘That's tough luck.’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to show that you do not feel sorry for somebody who has a problem",
            "labels": "(ironic)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘If you take the car, I won't be able to go out.’ ‘Tough luck!’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "when conditions or progress become difficult (strong and determined people work even harder to succeed)",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tʌf/",
                "audio": "to/tough/tough__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/tʌf/",
                "audio": "to/tough/tough__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English tōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch taai and German zäh."
}