hard nut to crack
Noun

hard nut to crack

  1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see hard, nut, crack
  2. (idiomatic) A problem that is challenging to solve.
  3. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to overcome or deal with.
    • 1928 June 8, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P6dQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wyEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6049,4365043&dq=hard-nut-to-crack&hl=en Mike McTigue Gives Emanuel a Real Fight]," Milwaukee Journal, p. 2 (retrieved 22 Sep. 2011):
      The coast lad found the veteran Mike McTigue a hard nut to crack and judging from the look on the Californian's face when the final bell sounded, he was mighty happy that the fight was over.
    • 2011 Jan. 12, Simon Shuster, "[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042081,00.html Will the E.U. Let Belarus' Despot Off the Hook?]," Time:
      "But Belarus is a hard nut to crack, and it has used these methods to slip out of these East-West pincers before," says Alexander Klaskovsky.
  4. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry.
    • "It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said. "Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken."
    • 1929 March 15, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H8EhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A50FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2430,3042564&dq=hard-nut-to-crack&hl=en Five Mexican Armies March to Meet Rebels]," Reading Eagle (USA), p. 1 (retrieved 22 Sep. 2011):
      Durango, however, may be a hard nut to crack, as it is strong strategically and is reported guarded by 4000 rebels.
    • 2008 Oct. 17, Barbara Wall, "Housing crisis? Not for the superrich ↗," New York Times (retrieved 22 Sep. 2011):
      Nice work if you can get it, but the luxury market is a hard nut to crack.
  5. (idiomatic) An amount that is difficult to finance.
Translations
  • German: harte Nuss
  • Russian: кре́пкий оре́шек
  • Spanish: hueso duro de roer



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