when the going gets tough, the tough get going

proverb

In difficult times, it is the strong-willed who take action.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. In difficult times, it is the strong-willed who take action.

Translations

French c'est quand le jeu devient dur que les durs commencent à jouer
  • c'est quand le jeu devient dur que les durs commencent à jouerin difficult times the strong-willed take action
Italian quando il gioco si fa duro, i duri cominciano a giocare
  • quando il gioco si fa duro, i duri cominciano a giocarein difficult times the strong-willed take action
Cite this entry
APA

when the going gets tough, the tough get going. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20the%20going%20gets%20tough%2C%20the%20tough%20get%20going

MLA

“when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20the%20going%20gets%20tough%2C%20the%20tough%20get%20going. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “when the going gets tough, the tough get going,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20the%20going%20gets%20tough%2C%20the%20tough%20get%20going.

Source: when the going gets tough, the tough get going on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.