tough cookie

A strong, determined person who is not easily intimidated, discouraged, or defeated. Our principal was a little lady, but she was one tough cookie! She had a difficult childhood, but she's a tough cookie. I know she'll be a success.

a tough cookie

one tough cookie

If someone is a tough cookie or one tough cookie, they are confident, brave and determined. A pushover is not how I'd describe her. Behind that sweet smile, there lies a tough cookie. He has a reputation as one tough cookie.

a tough ˈcustomer/ˈcookie

(informal) a person who knows what they want and is not easily influenced by other people: Self-confident, ambitious and positive, Paula is a tough cookie who is bound to do well.

See also: cookie, customer, tough

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

"Brad is a tough cookie and actually tougher than people say.

Guzan's a tough cookie - boo boys won't bother him

Relieved Barrie said: "Star is a tough cookie and came out of it OK.

He's a tough cookie but he finally pushed his luck a bit too far BARRIE HAYMAN on feisty star the duck

Down the Dog and Ruck; Britain's booziest duck injures beak in pub fight with a pooch

"The thing is," she says, "I look like a tough cookie, I sound like a tough cookie, and that's the problem, I'm sort of typecast.

Cracking a tough cookie

Unlike the nebbishy Soukaz, however, Dominique is a go-getter, a tough cookie. Her romantic ardor is second in intensity to her self-protective instincts, and Huppert conveys Dominique's stoicism with stirring economy.

The School of Flesh

She's such a strong, tough girl - she's a tough cookie, that one.

On CherandKatie

With Ronnie squawking away like a pro-abortion campaigner, it would be a tough cookie who decided to fly in the face of her wisdom.

We love telly: WE LOVE SOAPS

"I am a tough cookie and can fight my own corner but the trauma for me was incredible.

Liddell's cancer pledge

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