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💪 A tough person 😂 An amusing person 🧳 A rigid container
hardcase

hardcase

1 8.1
A person who is tough and difficult to deal with
  • noun
  • /ˈhɑrdˌkeɪs/
  • Informal
translation icon : dura
  • I heard the owner's a real hardcase.

Examples

  • WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE HARDCASE WILLIAMS AND HIS GANG.

    Lust in the Dust (1985)

  • Harlan Pritz, he's a hardcase, but, you know...

    Western World (2017)

  • MY NAME IS HARDCASE WILLIAMS.

    Lust in the Dust (1985)

  • YOU WOULDN'T BE HARDCASE WILLIAMS, WOULD YOU, BY ANY CHANCE ?

    Lust in the Dust (1985)

  • I GOTTA BE CRAZY BEING OUT HERE ALL ALONE, BUT I WAS DOING JUST FINE TILL I MET UP WITH THAT HARDCASE WILLIAMS AND HIS GANG.

    Lust in the Dust (1985)

  • My uncle is a real hardcase; he never backs down from a challenge.

  • The manager warned us that dealing with that client would be tough because he's a hardcase.

  • Despite her stubbornness, I admire her as a hardcase who stands up for her beliefs.

Synonyms

hard-ass
vshardcase
  • Offensive
15 9.8

A person who is very strict and demanding about rules or work

is more about being stubborn or difficult than about rule enforcement
tough
vshardcase
5 7.5

A person who is strong and may threaten or hurt others

is about stubbornness and being difficult to deal with rather than aggression
toughie
vshardcase
  • Informal
4 7.6

A person, question, or thing that is very difficult to deal with

is used mainly for people who are stubborn rather than any difficult problem
tough customer
vshardcase
  • Informal
3 5.3

A person who is hard to deal with or persuade when making a deal

is used for people who are difficult or stubborn in any situation
ballbuster
vshardcase
  • Offensive
1 9.3

A strict, demanding person who expects hard work

is milder and does not carry the same strong insulting tone
hardhead
vshardcase
  • Informal
1 6.6

A person who is stubborn and does not change their mind

is more about being difficult to deal with, not only unwillingness to change
hard nail
vshardcase
  • Informal
8.4

A person who is very tough and not easily influenced

is more about being stubborn or generally difficult to deal with
stiffneck
vshardcase
  • Offensive
9.3

A person who refuses to change their mind or actions

is used more broadly for someone who is stubborn and also difficult to deal with

Antonyms

easygoing
22 2.6

Being calm and relaxed and not easily upset

softie
  • Offensive
14 5.8

A person who shows strong feelings and is easily moved

How Tough

tough
5 7.5
unyielding
10 6.5
stubborn
217 2.9
hardcase
  • Informal
1 8.1
difficult
386 2.1
pushover
  • Offensive
18 5.1

Surface Forms

hardcase singular
hardcases plural

Morphology

hardcase = hard + case (semi-transparent) = hard + case

The constituents 'hard' and 'case' are recognizable, but 'case' meaning 'person' and the figurative sense 'difficult person' are idiomatic and not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Hardcase comes from joining hard 'tough' and case 'person or problem'. So a hardcase is like a 'tough case' — someone stubborn or difficult to deal with.