tough/tʌf; tʌf/adj 1 difficult or involving problems 困难的﹔棘手的: It was a tough job. 那是一项棘手的工作。They asked some tough questions . 他们问了一些难以回答的问题。Recently she's had a tough time . 最近她的日子很难熬。It's tough being married to a cop. 嫁给警察日子不好过。be tough on sb (=make things difficult for someone) 使某人日子难过 The divorce was tough on the kids. 离婚让孩子们吃了苦。2 a tough person is strong or determined, and not easily upset 强壮的﹔坚强的: Bruce Willis plays the part of a tough cop. 布鲁斯∙威利斯扮演一个硬汉警察的角色。a gang of teenage boys, trying to look tough 装凶充横的一帮十几岁男孩a tough businesswoman 作风强硬的女商人3 tough material is not easily broken or damaged〔材料〕结实的﹐不易破损的: a tough waterproof jacket 一件结实的防水夹克4 very strict 严厉的: +on/with The government said it was going to get tough on crime. 政府表示要严厉打击犯罪。tough immigration laws 严格的移民法5 tough food, especially meat, is difficult to cut and eat [ tender ]〔食物﹐尤指肉〕难切开的﹔咬不动的﹔老的: The steak was a bit tough. 牛排有点儿老。6 tough!/tough luck! spoken used when a bad situation affecting someone cannot or will not be changed, and you do not care【口】活该倒霉!: If you don’t like it, tough. 你不喜欢的话﹐那你活该倒霉!—toughness n [U]