hard-nosed

hard-nosed
hard-nosed (adj.) "stubborn," 1927, from HARD (Cf. hard) + NOSE (Cf. nose) (n.). Earlier of bullets or shells with hard tips, and of dogs that had difficulty following a scent.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • hard-nosed — {adj.}, {slang} Tough or rugged; very strict; not weak or soft; stubborn, especially in a fight or contest. * /Joe s father was a hard nosed army officer who had seen service in two wars./ * /Pete is a good boy; he plays hard nosed football./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hard-nosed — {adj.}, {slang} Tough or rugged; very strict; not weak or soft; stubborn, especially in a fight or contest. * /Joe s father was a hard nosed army officer who had seen service in two wars./ * /Pete is a good boy; he plays hard nosed football./… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hard-nosed — adj. facing reality squarely; guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory; tough and pragmatic; as, a hard nosed businessman. Syn: down to earth, hardheaded, practical, pragmatic. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hard-nosed — [ ,hard nouzd ] adjective determined to succeed and not influenced by emotions: a hard nosed businesswoman …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • hard-nosed — UK US /ˌhɑːdˈnəʊzd/ adjective ► practical and determined: »a hard nosed negotiator …   Financial and business terms

  • hard-nosed — adj [usually before noun] not affected by emotions, and determined to get what you want ▪ a hard nosed businessman …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hard-nosed — / hardheaded [adj] stubborn astute, bullheaded*, hard*, hard boiled*, headstrong, intractable, levelheaded, locked in*, mulish, obstinate, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded*, practical, pragmatic, rational, realistic, resolute, sensible, shrewd,… …   New thesaurus

  • hard-nosed — ☆ hard nosed [härd′nōzd΄ ] adj. Informal 1. indomitable; tough; stubborn 2. shrewd and practical hardnose n …   English World dictionary

  • hard-nosed — ► ADJECTIVE informal ▪ realistic and tough minded …   English terms dictionary

  • hard-nosed — adjective guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory a hardheaded appraisal of our position a hard nosed labor leader completely practical in his approach to business not ideology but pragmatic politics • Syn: ↑hardheaded,… …   Useful english dictionary

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