hard cases
Difficult legal precedents
Hard cases are people who are difficult to deal with, reform, or help—stubborn individuals resistant to change or persuasion.
In legal contexts, the phrase appears in the maxim hard cases make bad law, meaning unusual or emotionally compelling situations tempt judges to create exceptions that distort legal principles.
A hard case can also be someone tough, cynical, or unsentimental: He's a hard case, but fair.
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- challengesDifficulties requiring effort
- tough nut to crackDifficult person or problem
- hardshipsSevere difficulties or suffering
- obstaclesThings in the way
complexities · adversities · problems · predicaments · trials · precedent · hurdles · tribulations · complications · moral conflict · protective shells · jurisprudence · tough exteriors · trolley problem · armor · borderline · ambiguity · trade-offs
- containersbag, bags, box, boxes, bottle
- tough guystough guys, tough guy, thug, thugs, enforcer
- puzzlerspuzzle master, brainteasers, brain-teasers, conundrums, enigmas