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When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Cultural  
  1. The way to overcome adversity is to try harder.


when the going gets tough, the tough get going Idioms  
  1. see under get going, def. 2.


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:

I believe my man Bluto from “Animal House” put it best: When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

From New York Times Dec. 19, 2010

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

From Time Magazine Archive

Well, in the words of every high school football coach and that famous felon John Mitchell: When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

From Time Magazine Archive

The hero was humble, would blush when bussed by a cheerleader, and was forever uttering inspiring words like "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

From Time Magazine Archive

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going, right?"

From Joe Burke's Last Stand by Wetterau, John Moncure

He just gets down, you know, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that's what he is.

From BBC Mar. 13, 2025

Philadelphia is a city where, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

From Time Aug. 5, 2016

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