be tough

be tough

To be stern or commanding with someone. Tell Aunt Margie that she needs to be tough with the kids, or else they'll never listen to her.
See also: tough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be/get ˈtough (on/with somebody)

be strict with somebody whose behaviour you do not like; be ready to punish somebody: It’s time to get tough with football hooligans. be tough on crime
See also: get, tough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be/get tough
  • a tough nut to crack
  • tough nut to crack
  • tough nut to crack, a
  • get tough with
  • get tough with (someone)
  • tough times
  • hang tough
  • get tough
  • (as) tough as nails
References in classic literature
Don't I always say that to be good, a whale-steak must be tough? There are those sharks now over the side, don't you see they prefer it tough and rare?
'It's going to be tough as Sharks will be coming for revenge but I think today's win will inspire us.
NEW Celtic signing Maryan Shved has insisted he will be tough enough for Scottish football when he makes the move later this year.
So it is going to be tough, but I will be trying my best.
Vijender admits it will be tough facing Royer, who has fought 44 pro bouts
However, it will be tough to tackle Bahrain riders during the next two stages in UAE...
"We do pay a lot of tax but we are tax sensible as every business is and why is it because I am involved in these things some people think are idealistic but I think are very pragmatic things - why can't U2 be tough in business?" The 53-year-old added he is not a walkover and that he deals with all issues in the same way.
Nolan said: "It is going to be tough and we know that.
"It (the race for a top-four place) is going to be tough. We have the talent and quality in the side but we have to show it game by game.
We knew the ball will swing and it will be tough to bat under lights.
Men, on the other hand, are encouraged from boyhood to be tough and thick-skinned and to hide their softer emotions.
"That's been one of my blessings; I am tough when I need to be tough, and I can be a no-nonsense lady," she said.
The old attitude, she explained, may have been that policing was a 'tough job' - if you were to face the abuse from the public, you should be tough enough to face it from colleagues.
The Surrey left-hander, who replaces the injured Nasser Hussain, said: "It's going to be tough but all the Test matches I have played for England have been tough so it's not as if I am going to do something I have not done before.
'Because I was younger and smaller than the other two I had to be tough to hold my own.'