tough break
English
Noun
tough break (uncountable)
- (idiomatic) A situation resulting in misfortune or hardship; an instance of bad luck.
- 1998, Cal Ripken, Mike Bryan, The Only Way I Know, Penguin Publishing Group, page 389:
- So I close by saying that I might have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.
- 2014, Frederick Nebel, Will Murray, Tough as Nails, Head of Zeus, page 30:
- When you pulled that job in Westchester two years ago, I'll admit you got a tough break.
- 1998, Cal Ripken, Mike Bryan, The Only Way I Know, Penguin Publishing Group, page 389:
Interjection
tough break
- (idiomatic) An interjection of mild or insincere sympathy for someone else's misfortune.
- 1966, Charles Dizenzo, A Great Career, Dramatists Play Service, page 16:
- Tough break, Linda.
- 1990, Rickley S. Christian, Alive 2, Campus Life Books, page 120:
- My reaction? Tough break, chump.
- 1966, Charles Dizenzo, A Great Career, Dramatists Play Service, page 16:
Synonyms
- bad luck
- hard cheese
- hard lines
- hard luck
- tough cookies
- tough luck
- tough shit
- tough titties
- tough titty
- tough toodles
- tough tuchus