"tough to" vs "tough enough"

Question

"tough to" vs "tough enough"

Both "tough enough" and "tough to" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Tough enough" is used to express that someone or something has the necessary strength or resilience, while "tough to" is used to indicate difficulty or challenge in achieving something.

Last Updated: April 04, 2024

This phrase is used to express that something is difficult or challenging to accomplish or deal with.

Examples:

It's tough to make a decision in such a short time.
The problem was tough to solve, but we managed to find a solution.
She found it tough to adapt to the new environment.
It's tough to get a reservation at that restaurant.
The exam was tough to pass, but with hard work, she succeeded.

Alternatives:

difficult to
challenging to
hard to
tricky to
demanding to

This phrase is used to convey that someone or something has the necessary toughness or resilience for a particular situation or task.

Examples:

Is he tough enough to handle the pressure of the competition?
The material is tough enough to withstand extreme temperatures.
She proved to be tough enough to face the challenges ahead.
Are you tough enough to endure the physical demands of the job?
The team was tough enough to win the championship.

Alternatives:

strong enough
resilient enough
capable enough
robust enough
sturdy enough

Answer 1

tough to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate difficulty or challenge in achieving something.

Answer 2

tough enough

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone or something possesses the required strength or resilience.