a-hard-nut-to-crack
/ə hɑːd nʌt tuː kræk/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
A person or thing that is difficult to understand, influence, or deal with. It suggests toughness and resistance, often in a smart or stubborn way.
- The manager is a hard nut to crack.
- This problem is a hard nut to crack.
- She seemed friendly, but she was a hard nut to crack.
Adinary Nuance
A hard nut to crack is stronger and more informal than simply saying someone is difficult. It often suggests stubbornness, mystery, or strong resistance. Compared with 'challenging,' it feels more personal and colorful. Writers use it when they want a vivid, natural English phrase.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- khó giải quyết
- Spanish
- difícil de tratar
- Chinese
- 难对付
- Japanese
- 手強い
- Korean
- 다루기 어려운
Etymology
This idiom uses the image of a nut with a very hard shell. The phrase developed in English in the 19th century to describe someone or something difficult to get through or understand.
Common phrases
a hard nut to cracka real hard nut to crackone hard nut to crack
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is a hard nut to crack formal or informal?
- It is informal, but common in speaking and writing.
- Can I use it for a person and a problem?
- Yes. It can describe both people and difficult problems.
- Is it the same as difficult?
- Not exactly. It is more vivid and suggests resistance or stubbornness.