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Phrase: Tough as nails
The phrase tough as nails describes someone or something as extremely strong, resilient, and able to endure difficult situations without easily giving up.
This expression highlights not just physical strength but also emotional toughness.
When we say someone is tough as nails, we mean they can handle challenges that would overwhelm others.
For example, my father raised five children while working as a sheet metal worker and roofer in northern Canada, where nice weather is as rare as hen’s teeth.
My father worked all day outside in conditions that would kill most Americans.
People from North Dakota, USA or Hokkaido, Japan, like to think they are as tough as nails.
Well, -25℃ with a strong wind making it feel like -37℃ and whitecaps on the Atlantic Ocean was a ‘nice day’ for him.
This kind of toughness is about mental strength, determination and knowing that you have to be a man day in and day out.
In everyday life, you might describe a friend who overcomes hardships as tough as nails.
Perhaps they faced a serious illness but refused to let it defeat them.
Their spirit and bravery inspire those around them.
This kind of resilience is something we can all learn from.
Parents often teach their children to be tough as nails.
They encourage them to stand up to bullies and face school challenges head-on, reminding them that perseverance can lead to success.
My father did not tell me anything.
He would wake up every day and go to work, regardless of whether it was 15℃ and sunny or a -35℃ cold spell.
In the workplace, being tough as nails can be an asset.
Employees who are as tough as nails don’t crumble when things get hard; instead, they rise to the occasion.
Being tough as nails is not just about physical strength; it involves emotional fortitude and a willingness to fight for what you believe in.
Next time you see someone working outside in the bone-chilling cold or scorching heat, show them respect.
They are truly tough as nails!
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 71.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.
