tough

difícil, duro

Que cuesta hacer, comprender o resolver.

En inglés sencillo: Difficult to do, understand, or deal with.

• That is a tough question.
• We had to make some tough decisions.
• Finding work proved tougher than she expected.

Cómo se usa: tough to do something (This question is tough to answer.)

Sinónimos: difficult, hard, demanding

Antónimos: easy

Expresiones frecuentes: tough decision, tough question, tough job

estricto, duro

Firme y exigente, sin disposición a cambiar ni permitir excepciones.

En inglés sencillo: Firm and strict, and unwilling to change or allow exceptions.

• The school has tough rules.
• She takes a tough stance on cheating.
• The new manager is tougher on late arrivals.

Cómo se usa: tough on someone/something (The school is tough on bullying.)

Sinónimos: strict, firm, uncompromising

Antónimos: lenient

Expresiones frecuentes: tough stance, tough rules, tough on crime

duro, fuerte

Físicamente fuerte y capaz de afrontar el dolor o las peleas sin miedo.

En inglés sencillo: Physically strong and able to face pain or fights without fear.

• My brother is a tough guy.
• She is tougher than she looks.
• The fighters were tough, but they treated us kindly.

Sinónimos: strong, hardy

Antónimos: weak

Expresiones frecuentes: tough guy, tough fighter, tough person

duro, severo

Que resulta doloroso o angustioso de vivir, o exige soportar muchas dificultades.

En inglés sencillo: Unpleasant to experience because it causes pain, worry, or hardship.

• Life was tough after the factory closed.
• They faced a tough winter without heating.
• The judge gave him a tough prison sentence.

Sinónimos: harsh, hard

Antónimos: gentle

Expresiones frecuentes: tough life, tough punishment, tough treatment

resistente, robusto

Que no se daña, rompe ni desgasta fácilmente.

En inglés sencillo: Strong enough to resist damage, breaking, or wearing out.

• These boots are made of tough leather.
• We need a tough fabric for the tent.
• The plastic is tough enough to survive a fall.

Sinónimos: strong, durable, sturdy

Antónimos: fragile

Expresiones frecuentes: tough leather, tough material, tough fabric

duro, correoso

Se dice de un alimento difícil de cortar o masticar.

En inglés sencillo: Food that is difficult to cut or chew.

• The meat is tough.
• My steak was too tough to eat.
• Cooking it slowly can make a tough cut softer.

Sinónimos: chewy

Antónimos: tender

Expresiones frecuentes: tough meat, tough steak, tough beef

mala suerte, te aguantas

Se dice para mostrar que no te importa el problema o la queja de alguien.

En inglés sencillo: Said to show that you do not care about someone’s problem or complaint.

• You missed your turn? Tough!
• If you do not like the rules, tough!
• You wanted a bigger room? Well, tough!

Sinónimos: too bad

Expresiones frecuentes: well tough, tough luck

matón

Persona que recurre a amenazas o violencia para conseguir lo que quiere.

En inglés sencillo: A person who uses threats or violence to get what they want.

• A local tough demanded our money.
• The owner hired two toughs to guard the door.
• Several street toughs threatened the shopkeeper.

Sinónimos: thug, bully

Expresiones frecuentes: local tough, hired tough, street tough