hard nut to crack

Definitions

1. A problem that is challenging to solve.
   idiomatic
2. A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to overcome or deal with.
   broadly, idiomatic
3. A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry.
   idiomatic
4. An amount that is difficult to finance.
   idiomatic
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hard, nut, crack.

Equivalents

4 more languages

Suomikova pähkinä purtavaksi

Magyarkemény dió

Polskirozkminatwardy orzech do zgryzienia

Türkçeçetin ceviz

Examples

“He saw⟳ the dilemma. . . . It was a hard nut to crack. He could see⟳ no way out of it.”

“Germany's inflation proves a hard nut to crack.”

“The coast lad found the veteran Mike McTigue a hard nut to crack and judging from the look⟳ on the Californian's face⟳ when the final bell sounded, he was mighty happy that the fight⟳ was over.”

“"But Belarus is a hard nut to crack, and it has used these methods to slip⟳ out of these East-West pincers before," says Alexander Klaskovsky.”

“The next day Archie, with Andrew Macpherson and Cluny Campbell, made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle. . . . "It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said. "Unless by famine, the place⟳ could scarce be taken."”

“Durango, however, may be a hard nut to crack, as it is strong strategically and is reported guarded by 4000 rebels.”

“Nice work⟳ if you can get⟳ it, but the luxury market is a hard nut to crack.”

CEFR level