tough break

Idioms and Phrases

Also, tough luck . A trying or troublesome circumstance, bad luck, as in He got a tough break when he was denied a raise , or Tough luck for the team last night . This idiom uses tough in the sense of “difficult,” a usage dating from the early 1600s. The variant is also used as a sarcastic interjection, as in So you didn't make straight A's—tough luck! A slangy variant of this interjection is tough beans , and a ruder version is tough shit . [ Colloquial ; c. 1900]

Example Sentences

“It still is 100% their responsibility to provide power and gas. … If they lose money doing it, tough break,” said Cruikshank, who will be at the meeting.

From Los Angeles Times

Gilbert got a tough break when Jose Miranda hit a swinging bunt that turned into an infield single and loaded the bases.

From Seattle Times

“It was a tough break for us, there’s no doubt about it,” Rivers said when asked about Portis’ early departure.

From Seattle Times

He credited doctors and nurses for catching what he called a “tough break.”

From Washington Times

“Tough break,” Siraj tells me when we’re in the hall.

From Literature

Related Words

• adversity
• calamity
• catastrophe
• danger
• difficulty
• disaster
• discomfort
• fatigue
• grief
• hazard
• injury
• misery
• misfortune
• oppression
• peril
• persecution
• sorrow
• suffering
• torment
• trouble