get tough with

Become harsh, severe, unyielding with someone. For example, We have to get tough with these people or we'll get nowhere. [c. 1930]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Related Words for get tough with

differ, squabble, bicker, tangle, carp, wrangle, feud, spar, argue, complain, divide, bump, embroil, vary, disapprove, hassle, battle, row, contend, contest