hang tough

Idioms  

1. Remain firmly resolved, as in We're going to hang tough on this point and not give in. This slangy idiom uses tough in the sense of “aggressively unyielding,” a usage dating from the first half of the 1900s.

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Example Sentences

While Raducanu's movement has improved on the clay, it was not enough to hang tough consistently with Gauff in the rallies.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

Morgan State: With leading scorer Wynston Tabbs injured, the Bears were still able to hang tough in a rare opportunity against a ranked team at home.

From Washington Times • Dec. 22, 2023

Despite their absences, the Spartans were able to hang tough on the road against a ranked opponent — and throw a little chaos in the Big Ten West race.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2022

In a world of resurgent authoritarianism and racism and antisemitism, let's all hang tough for American democracy.

From Salon • Jul. 16, 2022

That’s why we could hang tough when we hung together, and why when things broke down and one brother or sister showed wrong we came down so hard.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers