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