• adj. 艱苦的，困難的；堅強的，不屈不撓的；堅韌的，牢固的；強壯的，結實的
• n. 惡棍
• vt. 堅持；忍受，忍耐
• adv. 強硬地，頑強地
• n. (Tough)人名；(英)圖赫

來自古英語 toh,結實的，堅硬的，來自 Proto-Germanic*tanhuz,結實的，堅硬的，來自 PIE*denk, 咬，詞源同 tongs,tang.拼寫受 rough,enough 等影響。引申諸相關詞義。詞義的多樣化演變比 較 hardy.

tough (adj.)

Old English toh "strong and firm in texture, tenacious, sticky," from Proto-Germanic *tanhu- (cognates: Middle Low German tege, Middle Dutch taey, Dutch taai, Old High German zach, German z?h), which Watkins suggests is from PIE *denk- "to bite," from the notion of "holding fast." See rough for spelling change.

From c. 1200 as "strong, powerful;" c. 1300 as "not tender or fragile;" early 14c. as "difficult to chew," also "hard to endure." Figurative sense of "steadfast" is mid-14c.; that of "hard to do, trying, laborious" is from 1610s. Verb tough it "endure the experience" is first recorded 1830, American English. Tough guy attested from 1901. Tough-minded first recorded 1907 in William James. Tough luck first recorded 1912; tough shit, dismissive retort to a complaint, is from 1946.

tough (n.)

"street ruffian," 1866, American English, from tough (adj.).

1. We'll face a tough fight in the upcoming election.

在即將到來的選舉中，我們將面臨一場惡斗。

來自柯林斯例句

2. The steak was tough and the peas were like bullets.

牛排老得嚼不動，豌豆像子彈一樣硬。

來自柯林斯例句

3. They believe that a tough, materially poor childhood is character-building.

他們認為一個艱難貧困的童年有助于性格的培養。

來自柯林斯例句

4. I think it was very brave of him to tough it out.

我認為他堅持到底非常勇敢。

來自柯林斯例句

5. She is tough, unwilling to take no for an answer.

她很強硬，不達目的誓不罷休。

來自柯林斯例句