tough nut
Stubborn difficult case
A tough nut is someone difficult to persuade, defeat, or understand—a person who resists pressure or keeps their guard up: He's a tough nut, but I think I can get him to talk.
The phrase often appears as tough nut to crack, emphasizing the effort required to get through to them.
- hardcaseStubborn, unyielding individual
- badassImpressively tough person
- die-hardUncompromising adherent
- hard-headedUnyielding in opinion
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
hard to read · obstinate · hard-nosed · old school · conundrum · stubborn · obdurate · stiff upper lip · resolute · tenacious · difficulty · walnut · shell · impasse · predicament · steadfast · indomitable · quandary
difficulty to influence or overcome
tough nutpushover
Easily defeated opponent
easy mark · soft touch · easy target · walkover · sucker
nut, tough, nuts, toughness, toughen, toughest, toughened, nutcase, nutcracker