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• hard case
  hard case

  noun

  a rough, hard-bitten person.
• hard-case
  hard-case

  adjective

  rough and hard-bitten.

hard case

¹ American  

noun

1. a rough, hard-bitten person.

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hard-case ² American  

[hahrd-keys] / ˈhɑrdˌkeɪs /

adjective

1. rough and hard-bitten.

   hard-case juvenile delinquents.

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Etymology

Origin of hard case¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Origin of hard-case²

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Even in the handful of places where homeowners can argue they are being unfairly assessed based on another assessment, such as Iowa, it’s a hard case to win, she said.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Kieron Moore’s Slovacek is the hard case who is in the Corps to avoid prison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

The chief judge of the 5th Circuit, Priscilla Richman, wrote the majority opinion and basically just quoted big chunks of the Supreme Court’s 2012 decision to show that this is not a hard case.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2024

“This is a hard case for me,” Lamberth said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2024

Clayton pointed to the hard case on wheels with a head and a body, which looked like a little brother leaning into his taller sister.

From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia