tough guy

tough guy

A particularly strong, resolute, fearless, and independent man who does not show weakness or emotion and does not rely on or bow down to others. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. The best tough guys in cinema are those who aren't invincible, but find still find a way to win against all odds. John's always putting on this tough-guy façade, but I know that deep down he's a bit of a coward.
See also: guy, tough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tough guy

a strong and severe man; a man who might be part of the underworld. He was your typical tough guy—jutting chin, gruff voice—but he was just our decorator checking up on the drapes. So, you want to be a tough guy, huh?
See also: guy, tough
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a ˈtough guy

(informal) a strong, independent-minded person who seems to be afraid of nothing: The most famous ‘tough guy’ in American movies was John Wayne.
See also: guy, tough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

tough guy

n. a tough man; a man who might be part of the underworld. He was your typical tough guy—jutting chin, gruff voice—but he was just our decorator checking up on the drapes. So, you want to be a tough guy, huh?
See also: guy, tough
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a tough guy
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • aint
  • ain't
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • not for a instant
  • by no means
  • not by any means
References in periodicals archive
JUSTIN BOZUNG: How did you come to work with Norman on Tough Guys
NORMAN MAILER'S DARK FORCES
Competitors take on the world's most demanding survival ordeal, the Tough Guy challenge in Perton, Wolverhampton
When the going gets tough..
TEST OF STAMINA: Competitors make their way round the course HARD-EARNED MEDAL: Darren Court celebrates after completing the the Tough Guy event, which included wading through six-foot high stinging nettles (below)
Full nettie jacket for Darren!
RARING TO GO: Sarah Stephenson, in orange, with her colleague Josephine Pointon who is also doing the Tough Guy challenge
Tough test lies ahead..
ALL FOR CHARITY Engineers Michael Brown and Steve Housego will take part in the Tough Guy Challenge
Tough guys put fitness to the limit
* Emily Baird, a member of the Cardiff University ladies rugby Tough Guy team who raised cash for Wales Air Ambulance
Ladies tough it out for charity; NEWS IN BRIEF
So what do "tough guys" in science fiction bring to these non-readers?
Touch guys of science fiction fantasy: guys you'll want in your reading corner
Bivol's report of a 2005 diplomatic cable by Beyrle is dedicated to an interview of another former US Ambassador, James Pardew, in a major Bulgarian daily earlier this week, in which he slams the Bulgarian politicians as pretending to be "tough guys" while shying away from any real actions against organized crime.
Bulgaria's PM - 'Armani-Clad Tough Guy' in WikiLeaks Cable - Report
Sweet Money Girl / Life and Death of a Tough Guy collects a pair of two-fisted action novels by New York City Hell's Kitchen native Benjamin Appel (1907-1977).
Sweet Money Girl / Life and Death of a Tough Guy
But it's still a Rambo movie and fans will lap up the chance to see the ultimate tough guy back on the big screen.
reviews: FILMS OUT THIS WEEK; mail music
But's he's a tough guy as well as a great guy - and I wish him a very speedy recovery.
Football: Get well Dave
A common misperception of me is I ama tough guy. You don't end up looking like me if you are a tough guy.
YOU SAID IT ... Quotes of the week
London's Inspector Brant is the sarcastic, rules-breaking, tough guy no one wants to mess with.
Bruen, Ken. Calibre
Street Smarts from Christian Martial Arts addresses not only how the author dealt with bullying and other difficult situations--such as how he defused a potential fight in a seedy bar when he was confronted by a tough guy with seven friends--but also the spiritual dimension of faith in Jesus Christ as protection against the "fatal blow of the devil." "No matter what we do, how good we get, or how hard we try, we will always fall short of the perfection necessary to get into Heaven.
Street Smarts from Christian Martial Arts
HUMPHRIES: You keep hearing from these guys, Rumsfeld's a tough guy. You know what?
Another side of Rummy