Isla Bennett
The phrase 'tough as nails' is used to describe someone who is strong, dedicated, enduring, and determined. It can also be used to describe someone who is harsh and unfeeling. The phrase is thought to allude to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Great strength of body, mind or will | Able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations |
| Unyielding | Not feeling or showing any emotions such as sympathy, fear or worry |
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What You'll Learn
- Tough as nails is a variant of hard as nails
- Tough as nails describes someone who is strong and determined
- Tough as nails can also mean someone who is unyielding or unsentimental
- Tough as nails is an informal way of saying someone is very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
- Tough as nails is a simile that alludes to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer
Tough as nails is a variant of hard as nails
The phrase 'hard as nails' has been around since the 1300s, when it was used alongside the terms hard as stone and hard as flint. The phrase 'tough as nails' appears to have come from these earlier phrases.
There is some debate about the difference in meaning between the two phrases. Adam Makkai, in *A Dictionary of American Idioms*, suggests that 'hard as nails' can mean two distinct things. However, the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms takes the view that 'tough as nails' is simply a variant of 'hard as nails'.
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Tough as nails describes someone who is strong and determined
The phrase 'tough as nails' is used to describe someone who is strong and determined. It is a simile that alludes to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer. It is often used to describe someone who is unyielding and unsentimental, and who is able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations.
The phrase is thought to have originated from the earlier phrases 'hard as stone' or 'hard as flint', which date back to the 1300s. Over time, the phrase evolved into hard as nails, and eventually, 'tough as nails'. While there is some debate over the exact meaning, it is generally agreed that the phrase describes someone who is resilient and able to withstand challenges, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
The phrase 'tough as nails' is often used to describe people who are strong-willed, determined, and able to persevere through difficult tasks or situations. For example, someone who is 'tough as nails' might be described as being able to move heavy furniture or play 500 straight games. It can also refer to someone who is emotionally resilient, not easily swayed by their feelings or the feelings of others.
In literature and popular culture, the phrase 'tough as nails' has been used by writers such as George Bernard Shaw in at least three of his plays, including *You Never Can Tell* and *Heartbreak House*. The phrase captures the essence of a character who is unyielding and resolute in the face of adversity.
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Tough as nails can also mean someone who is unyielding or unsentimental
The phrase 'tough as nails' is used to describe someone with great strength of body, mind or will. It is often used to describe someone who is unyielding or unsentimental. The phrase alludes to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer.
The phrase is thought to have originated from the earlier phrases 'hard as stone' or 'hard as flint', which date back to the 1300s. The playwright George Bernard Shaw used the phrase in at least three of his plays, including *You Never Can Tell* and *Heartbreak House*, to describe an unsentimental character.
The Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (2003) takes the view that 'tough as nails' is simply a variant of 'hard as nails'. However, Adam Makkai, in *A Dictionary of American Idioms* (1975), suggests that 'hard as nails' can mean two distinct things.
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Tough as nails is an informal way of saying someone is very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations
The phrase 'tough as nails' is an informal way of saying that someone is very strong and able to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situations. It is a simile that alludes to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer. It is often used to describe someone who is unyielding, strong, and determined. The phrase can also be used to describe someone who is harsh, unfeeling, or unsentimental. It is unclear whether the word 'nails' in the expression refers to the metal nails used in building or the body part at the end of the finger, but both ways would seem to make sense.
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Tough as nails is a simile that alludes to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer
The phrase 'tough as nails' is a variant of 'hard as nails', which dates back to the 1300s. According to Christine Ammer, 'hard as nails' may have come from the earlier terms hard as stone or hard as flint, which date back to Chaucer's time. The phrase 'tough as nails' is also used by Shaw in at least three of his plays, including *You Never Can Tell* and *Heartbreak House*, to describe an unsentimental character.
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Frequently asked questions
It means to be strong, dedicated, enduring, harsh, unfeeling, unyielding, or unsentimental.
It is unclear whether 'nails' refers to the metal nails used in building or the body part at the end of the finger. Both ways would seem to make sense.
The phrase 'tough as nails' replaced the earlier 'hard as flint or stone' from Chaucer's time. It seems to allude to a nail's ability to withstand the blows of a hammer.
George Bernard Shaw uses the phrase in at least three of his plays: *You Never Can Tell*, *Heartbreak House*, and *Man and Superman*.
When she's negotiating a contract, she can be as tough as nails.
