toughie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Low frequency, informal/spoken)Informal, colloquial. Common in spoken English, journalism (especially sports, headlines), and casual writing. Rare in formal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “toughie” mean?
A person or thing that is notably tough, resilient, or difficult.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that is notably tough, resilient, or difficult.
An informal term primarily for a difficult question, problem, or person. As a person, it can describe someone who is physically or emotionally resilient, or a child who is hard to discipline.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both dialects. Slightly more common in American English, particularly in the context of sports ('The quarterback is a real toughie').
Connotations
Generally neutral-to-positive when describing a resilient person. Slightly more negative when describing a difficult child or an uncooperative person.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but understood by all native speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “toughie” in a Sentence
[BE] a toughie[ASK/POSE] a toughie[TURN OUT TO BE] a toughieVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “toughie” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The last question on the pub quiz was a proper toughie.
- He might be small, but he's a little toughie on the football pitch.
American English
- The final puzzle in the escape room was a real toughie.
- She's a toughie, recovering so quickly from that injury.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informally, to describe a difficult negotiation or competitor: 'The contract clause about liability is a real toughie.'
Academic
Very rare. Might be used humorously among students: 'The third essay question was an absolute toughie.'
Everyday
Common for describing difficult tasks, quiz questions, or resilient children: 'Figuring out the new telly remote is a toughie.' / 'Your son's a little toughie, isn't he?'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “toughie”
- Using it in formal writing. Spelling it as 'tuffy'. Confusing it with 'tough' as a standalone adjective. Overusing it.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is firmly in the informal, colloquial register. It is found in dictionaries but is not suitable for formal writing.
Yes. While often used for people (meaning resilient), it is very commonly used for difficult questions, problems, or tasks (e.g., 'This crossword clue is a toughie').
'Tough' is a standard adjective. 'Toughie' is an informal noun derived from it, meaning 'a tough person/thing'. You can't say 'He is very toughie' (incorrect); you say 'He is a real toughie' (correct).
Not necessarily. It often carries a tone of respect or amused challenge. Calling a child a 'little toughie' is often affectionate. Calling a problem a 'toughie' acknowledges its difficulty without strong negative emotion.
A person or thing that is notably tough, resilient, or difficult.
Toughie is usually informal, colloquial. common in spoken english, journalism (especially sports, headlines), and casual writing. rare in formal contexts. in register.
Toughie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʌfi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʌfi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a toughie of a question”
- “He's a toughie, I'll give him that.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tough cookie. A 'toughie' is a person or thing that is similarly hard, resilient, or difficult to deal with.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS HARDNESS / RESILIENCE IS TOUGHNESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'toughie' LEAST likely to be used?