die-hard
or die·hard
[ dahy-hahrd ]
/ ˈdaɪˌhɑrd /
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noun
a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.
adjective
resisting vigorously and stubbornly to the last; stubborn.
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Origin of die-hard
First recorded in 1835–45; noun, adj. use of verb phrase die hard
OTHER WORDS FROM die-hard
die-hardism, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use die-hard in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for die-hard
die-hard
noun
a person who resists change or who holds onto an untenable position or outdated attitude
(modifier) obstinately resistant to change
Derived forms of die-hard
die-hardism, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with die-hard
die hard
Take a long time to cease to exist or be dropped from consideration. For example, Old prejudices die hard, or The more radical parts of this proposal will die hard. This idiom alludes to struggling against physical death. [Late 1700s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.