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Synonyms

get tough with

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Chen, a former deputy L.A. mayor, has been demanding that insurance companies deliver what their clients paid for, and imploring state insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara to get tough with them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2025

“So much of what we see now about the war in Vietnam is a function of the individual personalities and characters of people and their inability to just get tough with themselves.”

From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2025

His strategy has therefore been to get tough with Pyongyang.

From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2024

The campaign is part of a larger strategy to get tough with Starbucks as contract negotiations have stalled.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 12, 2023

Then things get tough with a visit to No. 5 Notre Dame.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2022

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