tough nut to crack

a tough nut to crack

1. A difficult task to complete. Getting an A in this class will be a tough nut to crack. You want me to find more money in the budget? Ha, there's a tough nut to crack!
2. A challenging or unreasonable person to understand or deal with. Our super-strict principal is a tough nut to crack, so I hope Kate can convince her to let us host this event. Because our boss usually keeps to himself, I have no idea what his interests are—he's a tough nut to crack.
See also: crack, nut, tough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tough nut to crack

verb
See tough egg to crack
See also: crack, nut, tough
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

tough nut to crack, a

A difficult problem; a hard person to deal with. This early analogy, also put as a hard nut to crack, was first drawn in the early eighteenth century. Benjamin Franklin used it in a letter in 1745: “Fortified towns are hard nuts to crack; and your teeth have not been accustomed to it.” A similar term from a somewhat later era is tough customer, likewise meaning a person difficult to deal with. Dickens used it in Barnaby Rudge (1841): “Rather a tough customer in argument, Joe, if anybody was to try and tackle him.”
See also: nut, tough
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a tough nut to crack
  • tough nut to crack, a
  • be tough
  • be/get tough
  • hang tough
  • tough times
  • (as) tough as nails
  • tough as nails
  • follow
  • tough
References in classic literature
He tries this on very much with me, but I flatter myself he has got a tough nut to crack. I know that from my glass.
Dracula
The young and short course proved a tough nut to crack for the 80-player field as only 15 players cracked par with several big names struggling.
Dutchman takes charge in Danao
Pep may decide to rest a few A-listers and City may find Brighton a tough nut to crack.
MAN CITY v BRIGHTON; BOOKIES v BETTING BOYS; William Hill's Joe Crilly gives his verdict on the weekend's big games, but those fabulous Betting Boys are looking to take him on.. and take his money
Howe will be glad to get back to Dean Court, where they have beaten West Ham and Chelsea comfortably in their last two home games, but Wolves could prove to be a tough nut to crack.
IAN WILKERSON'S VERDICT..
Neilson, 38, who replaced Csaba Laszlo last week, insists the third-top Highlanders will be a tough nut to crack.
We'll need a Utd front
Though Creamline drew a huge confidence boost with its Game Two win, Valdez knows that Pocari Sweat-Air Force, backed by its championship experience, will be a tough nut to crack.
PVL do-or-die semis up
But achieving the Rs 13 billion target would be tough nut to crack, he said.
RTO Multan lags far behind target with fiscal-year-end just days away
It's got an Assassin's Creed feel and the huge boss men battles are superb the best thing about the game but, be warned, it's a tough nut to crack.
Taking on a massive challenge; Extinction PS4, Xbox One, PC ....
Tereapii Tapoki, a police officer from Rarotonga, the largest of the 15 palm-fringed Pacific islands that make up the country, hit on the solution after finding throwing sports a tough nut to crack with no equipment available.
No shot put or discus? Use a coconut instead
Rebecca Menzies-trained Halycon Days proved a tough nut to crack and saw off Supreme Asset by a neck in the two-mile handicap chase.
SPACE SHIP TAKES OFF
ALAN PARDEW is looking forward to pitting his wits against Sam Allardyce tomorrow - but has warned that his old adversaries Sunderland will be a tough nut to crack.
Sam has a big fan in Palace's Pardew
However, he has far less on his plate, and with conditions to suit, he should be a tough nut to crack.
Jack Dexter can enjoy return
The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, a mecca for tourists, has nevertheless proven a tough nut to crack for restaurateurs.
A finely tuned space
Favourite Prince Gibraltar, an unlucky-in-running third in the French Derby, looked to have all bases covered but found first Teletext a tough nut to crack before Gallante hit another gear in the Derrick Smith colours to foil Jean-Claude Rouget's hotpot.
Shock defeat of Derby hero; SPORT SHORTS RACING
India, June 10 -- Apple has signed a deal with Sony Music Entertainment, the major label that had remained a tough nut to crack all these months, for the much anticipated iRadio service.
Apple seals the deal with Sony Music; big three now signed up for expected iRadio