be tough on

idiom

: causing stress or worry to (someone)
This year has been tough on our family.

Examples of be tough on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Democrats are often afraid to be tough on crime, and on the border, but there is really no downside to either, particularly from Black and Latino voters. Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 31 July 2024 The forthcoming protest, which was dealt a blow this week after a federal judge rejected a request from activists for more space to demonstrate, comes as Republicans raise concerns over whether Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, will be tough on Hamas. Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Aug. 2024 In Oregon, voters in May replaced a progressive district attorney with a centrist candidate backed by police groups who vowed to be tough on crime in the Portland area amid frustrations over violence tied to homelessness and drug use. Michael Goldberg, Twin Cities, 31 July 2024 Netanyahu has always claimed to be tough on terror and has portrayed his opponents as softies. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016 See all Example Sentences for be tough on 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be tough on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near be tough on

Cite this Entry

“Be tough on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20tough%20on. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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