tough cookie
noun[C]
mainlyUSinformaluk/ˌtʌf ˈkʊk.i/us/ˌtʌf ˈkʊk.i/apersonwho isabletodealwithdifficultsituationsand not beeasilydefeated,frightened, orupset:
He said hiswifeis atoughcookie, abreastcancersurvivorwhobattledthediseasefornearlytenyears.
Andletmetellyou something, he'sonetoughcookie—so beprepared.
- He's onetoughcookieand hepickedhimself up and came back into theringfor moresparring.
- You have to be aprettytoughcookieto havequalifiedas alawyerwhileraisingafamily.
- My co-workers were great—toughcookieswho were alsofriendlyandcompassionate.
- In a male-dominatedfield, sometimes I don't get takenseriously. But I'm atoughcookieand theguysquicklylearnnot tojudgeme on the way Ilook.
Strong-willed
- adamant
- adamantine
- adamantly
- aggressive
- aggressively
- go-getting
- going
- gutsy
- hard-boiled
- hard-headed
- pigheadedly
- purposeful
- purposefully
- pushy
- recalcitrant
- unbending
- undaunted
- unrelenting
- unrelentingly
- unyielding
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Stubborn and determined people