English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE
a tough cookie: meaning and examples
a tough cookie means a strong person who handles difficulty well.
Aprende la expresión como una unidad fija y observa la preposición y la forma verbal en los ejemplos.
این عبارت را بهصورت یک واحد ثابت یاد بگیرید و به حرف اضافه و شکل فعل در مثالها توجه کنید.
Lerne die Wendung als feste Einheit und achte in den Beispielen auf Präposition und Verbform.
Apprenez l’expression comme une unité fixe et observez la préposition et la forme verbale dans les exemples.
Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “a tough cookie” and connect it to this meaning: a strong person who handles difficulty well.
How to use “a tough cookie”
- Mina is a tough cookie who never gives up.
- You have to be a tough cookie in that job.
Common mistake: Treat “a tough cookie” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.
Learn it in context
This expression belongs to Lesson 11, where you can compare it with other idioms about character and practise it interactively.
Open the full lesson →