Reverse Dictionary: TOUGH

ADJECTIVES
► BAD of persons: very tough; pugnacious; formidable; hence, formidably skilled → 1855 Amer. sl., esp. African-American
► BADASS belligerent or intimidating; tough; bad; nasty → M20 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► BALLS tough, masculine, courageous → 1980s US sl.
► BALLS-ASS tough, masculine, courageous → 1960s US sl.
► BALLSIE ► BALLSY tough, masculine, courageous → 1935 sl.
► BUTT-KICKING aggressive, violent, tough; strong, powerful; also, excellent or impressive → 1973 US sl.
► CASE-HARDENED made callous or tough by experience → 1769
► DUSTY tough, dangerous → M19 US sl.
► GALLOWS attractive, wonderful; self-confident, quick-witted, brave, tough, bold, daring, ostentatious, nonchalant → 1789 UK
► GUTSY tough, spirited, courageous → 1893
► GUTTY tough, spirited, courageous → 1953
► HALF-ALLIGATOR aggressive, tough, rambunctious → M19 sl.
► HARD-BITTEN tough in fight → 1784
► HARDBOILED tough; heartless → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► HARD DOWN tough, adamant → 1851 Amer. dial.
► HARDROCK ► HARDROCKS physically tough → 1910s US sl.
► HICKORY rough, tough → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► HUSKY tough and strong; big, strong, and vigorous → 1894
► LEATHER-ASSED tough, stubborn, aggressive → 1977 Amer. sl.
► LEATHERLY leather-like, tough → 1573 obs.
► NUGGETY short, thickset, tough → 1856 Aust. & NZ sl.
► OILY mean-tempered; tough, mean, unpleasant, troublesome, unruly, obstinate → 1936 Amer. dial.
► RAWHIDE of a person: tough, experienced → 1883 Amer. dial.
► ROUGHNECK tough, rowdy → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► RUFTIE-TUFTIE ► RUFTY-TUFTY boisterous; rough, tough → 1606
► SALTY tough, aggressive; used of a veteran of a particular environment, as of a prison → 1920s US sl.
► TIGHT of a person: tough and unyielding → 1928 US sl.
► TOUGH AS A BILED OWL having a tough, strong constitution → 1909 Amer. dial.
► TOUGH AS A BOILED EEL very tough → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► TOUGH AS A BOILED OWL having a tough, strong constitution → 1843 Amer. dial.
► TOUGH AS FENCING WIRE very tough → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► TOUGH AS OLD BOOTS very tough → 1870
► TOUGH AS WHANG very tough → 1956 Amer. dial.
► TOUGH AS WHANG LEATHER adj. very tough → 1937 Amer. dial.
► TOUGH AS WHITLEATHER very tough → 1786 Amer. dial.
► TOUGHER THAN A BAGFUL OF HAMMERS very tough → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► TOUGHER THAN A BILED OWL very tough indeed → 1863 Amer. sl.
► TOUGHER THAN A BOILED OWL thoroughly tough and of strong constitution → 1892 Amer. dial.
► TOUGHER THAN WHALE BONE very tough → 1938 Amer. dial.
► TOUGHER THAN WHANG very tough → 1938 Amer. dial.
► TOUGHER THAN WHITLEATHER tougher than rawhide, very tough → 1923 Amer. dial.
► TWO-FISTED tough, aggressive; vigorous → 1878 US colloq.
► WANGARY ► WANGERY tough → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WITHY 1. like a withe; tough and flexible, leathery → 1822 Amer. dial.
2. of a person: strong and supple; wiry, tough → 1849 Amer. dial.

NOUNS
► BARB WIRE DEAL a tough situation to handle → 1958 Amer. dial.
► GUTS stamina, toughness of character, tenacity, staying power, endurance → colloq.

NOUNS – PERSON
► BABY a mean or intimidating man; a tough guy → 1939 Amer. sl. 
► BADASS a tough guy; a cocky, troublesome person → 1956 US sl. 
► BAD DAD a person whose opinion of his own toughness exceeds the rest of the world’s estimation → 1973 US sl.
► BADDIE an unpleasant person, spec. a criminal, a hoodlum, a tough guy; a mischievous person → 1939 sl.
► BAD EGG a tough man → 1928 sl., orig. US
► BAMBINO a man, esp. a strong or tough man; a fellow, a guy → c1920 Amer. sl.
► BATTLE-CRUISER a tough, aggressive, formidable older woman → 1957 sl.
► BATTLESHIP a tough, physically large and aggressive (older) woman → 1865 US sl.
► BEAR CAT a tough person, man, or woman → 1990 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► BIFF-GUY a thug, a hoodlum, or tough → 1992 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
► BIG DOG a thug; a bouncer, a large, tough man employed to keep order in premises → 1884 US sl.
► BILLY BAD-ASS someone who sets themselves up as tough, aggressive; usually in ironic use → 1970 sl., orig. US
► BILLY JOE BAD-ASS someone who sets themselves up as tough, aggressive; usually in ironic use → 1987 sl., orig. US
► BIMBO a thug; a tough guy; a stupid, inconsequential or contemptible fellow → 1918 US sl.
► BIT OF STUFF a tough, aggressive young man → 1900 Aust. & Irish sl.
► BRUISER a strong, tough person → 1580 colloq.
► BUSHIE a rough, tough, unattractive, or otherwise unappealing woman → 1987 Aust. sl.
► BUTCH a nickname for a tough young man → 1942 US sl.
► BUTCHY a nickname for a tough, violent, or physically fit man → 1891 US
► CHUD a tough, virile, well-built man → 1997 Aust. sl.
► CITIZEN a rough, tough, or uncouth fellow → 1897 Amer. dial.
► CURLY WOLF an objectionable or mean person; a tough character → 1919 Amer. dial.
► DUKE a regular fellow; a tough guy → 1989 US sl.
► GEMMIE a tough, ruthless young man → 1973 Sc. sl.
► HARD-ARSE ► HARD-ASS a tough, unyielding, severe person; a severe and often pugnacious person → 1940s US sl.
► HARD-CASE a hardened, tough person → 1836 US sl.
► HARDFIST a violence-prone, tough person → 1955 Can. sl.
► HARD JOHN a tough, uncompromising person → 1961 US sl.
► HARD KNOT a person no to be trifled with; a tough character → 1981 Amer. dial.
► HARD NUT a dangerous foe; a tough individual; a difficult challenge → 1884 US sl.
► HARD ROCK a physically and mentally tough person → 1988 African-American sl.
► HARDROCKER a thug; a tough person → 1970s US sl.
► HARD ROOT a tough, devil-may-care person → 1920s Irish sl.
► JABRONEY ► JABRONI a low-level gangster; a tough → 1921 US sl.
► LEATHER-ASS a tough, stubborn or aggressive person → 1970 Amer. sl.
► MACCA-MAN a tough, strong, efficient man → 1970s W. Indies sl.
► MAN-EATER an exceptionally strong, tough fellow; esp. a pugilist → 20C Brit. sl.
► MOLL orig., a girl or woman; one’s wife or sweetheart ; a tough or rowdy young woman → 1753
► MUSSIE a tough woman → 1953 Brit. sl.
► NAIL a tough or dangerous fellow → 1812 Amer. sl.
► NAILS an aggressive person  a ‘hard’ man → 1989 UK juvenile sl. 
► NINJA a tough person → 2002 African-American sl.
► NUT a daredevil, a tough character → 1898 Aust. sl.
► PUG any young tough or mean man → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► ‘RILLA a street tough guy or thug → 2008 African-American sl.
► ROD a manager or leader, usually a tough person or harsh disciplinarian → L19 sl.
► RULLION a coarse, tough, unkempt person → 1953 Amer. dial.
► SCRUFF-HOUND a rough, tough person → 1940s sl.
► TUSH HOG a tough, aggressive person, a bully, a rowdy → 1919 Amer. dial.
► WAR HORSE an old person still active or enthusiastic; a tough old person → 1980 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► ZAMIETESS a tough, brawling, noisy woman → 1996 W. Indies sl.

PHRASES
► HE CHEWS NAILS AND SPITS RUST applied to someone who is rough and tough, or who wishes to appear so → 20C chiefly Anglo-Irish

VERBS
► HAVE A PAPER ASSHOLE to lack toughness → 1945 Amer. sl.