hard case
C1Informal, slightly colloquial. Occasionally found in semi-formal registers when describing specific problems.
Definition
Meaning
A person who is tough, difficult to manage, or shows little regard for rules; an extreme or problematic instance of something.
Often used to describe someone resilient, cynical, or resistant to reform. Can also refer to a complex or severe problem that is difficult to solve, such as in law, medicine, or social work.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries dual meaning: 1) a tough/incorrigible person, 2) an exceptionally difficult or atypical problem. The sense often depends on context. Can be used with slight admiration for toughness or with negative judgment for unreformability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British and Commonwealth English (e.g., Australian) to describe a person. In American English, the 'problem' sense is more prominent, and 'hard case' for a person might be replaced by 'hard-ass' (vulgar) or 'tough cookie'.
Connotations
UK: Often implies a roguish, street-smart, or cynically humorous character, not purely negative. US: More negative or clinical; emphasizes the intractability of a problem or person.
Frequency
Moderate in UK informal speech; low-to-moderate in US, primarily in professional/problem-solving contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + a hard case: He's/She's/It's a real hard case.[adjective] + hard case: a notorious/tough/real hard casehard case + [preposition]: a hard case for reform/a hard case of neglectVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hard cases make bad law.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe a difficult client or an intractable market problem.
Academic
Used in law, social sciences, and ethics to discuss exceptional, complex examples that challenge a general rule or theory.
Everyday
Informal description of a tough, cynical, or rule-breaking person.
Technical
In social work, law enforcement, or medicine: an exceptionally difficult, non-standard case requiring special handling.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He had a real hard-case attitude about the whole affair.
American English
- She gave me a hard-case look that said 'don't even try'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle is a real hard case; he never shows his emotions.
- The judge described the defendant as a hard case with a long history of petty crime.
- Ethicists warn that legislating based on hard cases can create unworkable laws for the majority.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'hard' suitcase you can't open. A 'hard case' is a person or problem that is similarly tough to 'crack open' or solve.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS HARDNESS / A PERSON IS A CONTAINER (of toughness or problems).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'твёрдый чехол' (hard cover). For a person: 'трудный/неисправимый человек', 'крепкий орешек'. For a problem: 'сложный/запутанный случай'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in very formal writing. Confusing with 'hard-nosed' (pragmatic, uncompromising). Using 'hardcase' as one word (non-standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'hard cases make bad law' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. It can be a grudging compliment for toughness or resilience, though it often implies someone is difficult or cynical.
Very rarely and only in specialized contexts (e.g., a protective container). Its primary meaning is always a person or an abstract problem.
A legal maxim meaning that creating a general legal rule to suit an extreme, unusual case ('hard case') often results in a poor law that doesn't work well for normal situations.
'Hardcore' refers to the most intense, dedicated, or extreme members of a group (e.g., hardcore fans). 'Hard case' refers to an individual's tough, difficult character or a singularly difficult problem.