hardening

Related to hardening: hardening of the arteries, Case hardening

harden off

To systematically expose a young plant to outdoor conditions so that it adapts well when moved outside permanently. A noun or pronoun can be used between "harden" and "off." That delicate plant won't survive outside unless you harden it off first.
See also: harden, off

harden up

1. To cause something to become physically harder or more solid. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "harden" and "up." The tub of ice cream was melting, so I stuck it in the freezer to harden it up.
2. To become physically harder or more solid. If the ice cream is melting, stick it in the freezer for a bit so it hardens up.
See also: harden, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

harden something off

to accustom a young plant to normal weather so it can be moved from a protected environment to the out-of-doors. We put the plants by the open window to harden them off. We hardened off the plants.
See also: harden, off

harden something up

to make something hard or strong. Put the meat in the freezer awhile to harden it up before you try to slice it thin. Harden up the ice cream a little in the freezer.
See also: harden, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • angle
  • angling
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • involve with
  • involve with (someone or something)
  • involved with
  • arrange for
  • arrange for some time
  • arrange some music for
  • ask back
References in periodicals archive
They have rounder corners than the other curves, which indicate the appearance of transient hardening behaviour in the early stage.
Experimental study of the plasticity responses of TRIP780 steel subjected to strain-path changes
Based on the previously mentioned analysis, three kinds of simple harmonic vibrations with different frequency and amplitude are imposed on the concrete specimens at pouring to the initial hardening phase, initial hardening to final hardening phase, and pouring to the final hardening phase, respectively.
The impact of Traffic-Induced Bridge vibration on rapid repairing high-performance concrete for bridge deck pavement repairs
3, the increase of laser power does not markedly magnify the optimal hardening area on the AC16 workpiece.
Transformation hardening of medium-carbon steel with a fiber laser: the influence of laser power and laser power density/ Vitutinio anglingumo plienu kietumo keitimas pluostiniais lazerias: lazerio galios tankio itaka
To define the "layer hardness" process function, we have determined the specific form of the two process functions given by relations (1) and (2) for the concrete case of electron beam hardening process:
Mathematical and experimental modelling of the electron beam surface hardening
The analytical results, including the effects that material strain hardening, strain rate dependency, and indenter geometry have on the indentation depth, are discussed in Sec.
Self-similarity simplification approaches for the modeling and analysis of rockwell hardness indentation
Since the terrorist attacks, the property/casualty market's rate hardening has accelerated because the insurance capacity in the marketplace has become strained, said Jack Sinnott, chief executive officer and chairman of Marsh inc., one of the largest insurance brokerages.
A Hard Landing: The Sept. 11 catastrophe accelerated the industry's movement into a hard market, leaving it with challenges in underwriting and customer relationships. (Industry Strategies)
Diesel engine builders have been induction hardening crankshaft bearing journals since the 1940s, and the process became nearly universal in the '60s with the demand for more power from existing engine designs.
Recent Developments In Induction Hardening Technology For Diesel Engine Components
How is a part heated to such temperatures that will allow for work hardening? Metal cutting requires great forces and the action of a tool meeting the material is not always smooth.
Work hardening--A material kind of problem
So-called hardening of the arteries occurs in part because a key protein called elastin is replaced with a less elastic building material.
Exercise may keep arteries springy
There is another concept in ADI which is commonly misinterpreted: hardening the surface of ADI by "work hardening." It is correct that the surface of an ADI part can be hardened by stressing but most of the hardening is done by a mechanism other than work hardening.
Austempered ductile iron: fact and fiction
One of the most important applications of electron beam processing is surface layer hardening of several steel or alloy steel parts used in modern manufacturing.
The effect of electrical--technological parameters on electron beam surface hardening
The new plant, just commissioned at the Birmingham facility, is designed for vacuum hardening of alloy steels and annealing of stainless steels.
Wallwork invests [pounds sterling]750,000 in new capacity. (News Desh)
The property/casualty insurance market was hardening before Sept.
Under Pressure: Small independent agents could be forced out of business by accelerated market hardening. (Industry Strategies)
A phosphate containing solution is used as the liquid for a shorter hardening time of 5 min (7).
A natural bone cement--a laboratory novelty led to the development of revolutionary new biomaterials