hang tough

Meanings

verbhang tough (third-person singular simple present hangs tough, present participle hanging tough, simple past and past participle hung tough)

present singular third person hangs tough · participle present hanging tough · participle past hung tough · past hung tough

idiomaticintransitiveTo remain strong-willed or brave, especially when experiencing duress or adversity.
But Hoop Dreams isn't mainly about sport, or even about life and death in the inner city. It's about families hanging tough on nerve and prayer.
1994 October 24, Richard Corliss, “CINEMA: False Hoops”, in Time
Synonyms: grin and bear it, hang in there, suck it up, take it like a man, tough it out

verbTo remain strong-willed or brave, especially when experiencing duress or adversity.

Similar

French tenir bon

Greek δεν το βάζω κάτω

Cite this entry

APA

hang tough. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20tough

MLA

“hang tough.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20tough. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hang tough,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20tough.