Tough as Nails 🔨
Definition: Unyielding, tough, usually describing a person.
Origins and Evolution: This simile, which replaced the earlier expressions “hard as flint” or “hard as stone” (dating from Chaucer’s time), alludes to a nail’s ability to withstand the hammer’s blows. George Bernard Shaw used it in at least three of his plays (“You Never Can Tell,” “Heartbreak House,” “Man and Superman”) to depict an unsentimental character.
Synonyms:
- Hard as nails
- Tough as old boots
- Sturdy as an oak
- Solid as a rock
Antonyms:
- Soft-hearted
- Gentle
- Tender
- Fragile
Related Expressions:
- Built like a tank
- Iron-willed
- Made of sterner stuff
- As tough as they come
Humor-Filled Quote: “She’s so tough, she eats nails for breakfast and steels herself with iron supplements!”
Proverb: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
Suggested Literature, Movies, and Songs:
- Literature: “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand 🎿
- Movies: “Rocky” series, “Terminator” series
- Songs: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, “Stronger” by Kanye West 🎵
- Poetry: “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley 💪
Inspirational Thought-provoking Farewell: Life will hammer you down only to reveal how tough you truly are. Keep shining, keep believing, and let your inner strength be your guide.
