Meaning of tough cookie | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A person who can endure physical or mental hardship; a hardened, strong-willed person.
   informal
2. A hardy, resilient animal or plant.
   informal
3. Something troublesome or difficult to handle.
   informal

Equivalents

Examples

“An austere, hard-lining rightist, who lives alone, Ioannidis is described by one Washington military official as "a real tough cookie."”

“Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history Of breaking little hearts like⟳ the one in me”

“I run⟳ to Micki and give⟳ her a hug. She was racing with a broken thumb — a tough cookie, just like⟳ me.”

“"Although she's a small-framed woman, we all believed she came through the Marines and maybe ate nails for breakfast because she's one tough cookie," said Horace Taylor […]”

“Boxwood is a pretty tough cookie. Wind, cold, wet⟳, exhaust⟳ fumes, and industrial pollution are of no consequence.”

“Though its name⟳ is Cupcake, Tristan Carter's cat proved it was one tough cookie surviving on its own⟳ since Hurricane Katrina forced Carter to abandon it […]”

“The pup that struggles constantly might be one tough cookie when it comes to training; […]”

CEFR level