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hard-ass

hard-ass

5 9.3
Very strict and demanding about rules or work
  • adjective
  • /hɑrd æs/
  • Offensive
translation icon : cabrón (vulg.)
  • You know, you're really being a hard-ass about this, Frank.

OK, so that's where you are or you're just you're just the the hard ass girl, like the hard ass black girl.

Examples

  • Sorry for sounding like such a hard-ass, but if you walk down a street where I live, you'll see a lot of people whose lives have been ruined by drugs like meth and heroin.

    Blog text (32)
  • The coach was a real hard-ass when it came to practice schedules, insisting that every player arrive on time.

  • " That would be really hard for just the two of us, him being such a hard ass and all.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Yeah, I'm a hard ass.

  • When did you become such a hard-ass?

  • Maybe you shouldn't have been such a hard-ass.

  • She said you were being a real hard-ass.

  • They're probably out there sharing tales about what a hard-ass their dad is.

  • What a hard-ass!

  • She can be a bit of a hard-ass about deadlines, making sure everyone submits their work promptly.

Synonyms

hard
vshard-ass
1.1

Needing a lot of effort and often strict or severe

is used specifically for very uncompromising behaviour toward rules and methods
strict
vshard-ass
359 3.2

Not allowing any exceptions and requiring rules to be followed exactly

is more informal and harsher in tone when enforcing rules
severe
vshard-ass
68 4.2

Very strict and harsh when judging or punishing people

is more informal and blunt in enforcing rules rather than formal judgment
hard-line
vshard-ass
  • Literature
21 7.2

Firm and unwilling to change views or plans, often in politics

applies that refusal broadly to everyday rules and methods rather than only policies
hardline
vshard-ass
14 6.8

Very strict and unwilling to change policies or make compromises

applies the same uncompromising attitude more broadly to personal rules and methods
hard-nosed
vshard-ass
12 7.2

A practical, tough person who is not moved by feelings

focuses on practical toughness and realism rather than firm rule enforcement
hard-core
vshard-ass
3 7.5

Unwilling to change bad habits or beliefs

focuses on firm rules and methods rather than stubborn negative behaviour resistance

Antonyms

32 4.4

Not strict about rules and punishment

easy-breezy
  • Informal
1 6.1

Simple and relaxed, not difficult or serious

How Strict

draconian
  • Formal
28 8.9
hard-ass
  • Offensive
5 9.3
strict
359 3.2
firm
73 2.7

Surface Forms

hard-ass positive

Morphology

hard-ass = hard + ass (transparent) = hard + ass

The meaning is directly built from 'hard' + the vulgar noun 'ass' (derogatory intensifier), yielding a predictable sense 'a strict/tough person'.

Etymology

Hard-ass comes from hard ('tough') and ass ('donkey' or a rude word for a person), so a helpful way to remember it is to picture someone as tough and stubborn. That's why calling someone hard-ass as an adjective means they are very strict and not willing to change.