Gravy train

[1104] Hard nut to crack

🎲 In a pickle
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A difficult problem to solve or a person who is difficult to understand, persuade, or deal with.

Origin

  • This idiom is based on the literal difficulty of cracking the shell of certain nuts (like walnuts or Brazil nuts) to get to the kernel inside.
  • It dates back to at least the 1700s.
  • The effort required to break the shell is compared to the effort needed to solve a tough problem or understand/influence a stubborn or reserved person.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

(Problem):

  • A tough cookie (Can also refer to a person)
  • A difficult challenge / issue
  • A tricky situation
  • A Gordian knot (A very complex, seemingly unsolvable problem)

(Person):

  • A tough cookie / Tough customer
  • Hard to read / Difficult to get to know
  • Reserved / Closed-off
  • Stubborn / Obstinate

Alternatives

For Problems:

    Slang/Informal:

    • Standoffish (Reserved and unfriendly)
    • A brick wall (Impossible to get through to)
    • Plays their cards close to their chest (Doesn't reveal intentions)

    Milder/Standard:

    • Reserved
    • Difficult to persuade
    • Stubborn
    • Uncommunicative
    • Hard to read

    For People:

      Situational Appropriateness

      • Informal to neutral.
      • Generally acceptable in most contexts, including business, as long as the tone is appropriate.
      • Calling a person this directly might be seen as slightly critical, depending on context.

      Misunderstanding Warnings

      • Unlikely to be misunderstood, as the metaphor is fairly intuitive.

      Examples

      • This math problem is a hard nut to crack.
      • The new CEO is friendly, but she's a hard nut to crack when it comes to changing her mind.
      • Getting him to talk about his feelings is like trying to crack a hard nut.

      Dialogue

      Manager A: How's the negotiation going with the new client?

      Manager B: Slowly. Their lead negotiator is a hard nut to crack. Very experienced, doesn't show her cards.

      Manager A: Keep at it. Persistence might pay off. Let me know if you want to brainstorm strategies.

      Manager B: Thanks, I might take you up on that.

      Social Media Examples

      • Post: Trying to debug this code... it's proving to be a hard nut to crack! Any #programming wizards have tips for dealing with [specific issue]? #coding #developer
      • Tweet: My toddler's picky eating phase is a hard nut to crack. One day loves broccoli, the next day throws it! #parenting #toddlerlife
      • Forum Comment: Getting funding approved through that committee is notoriously a hard nut to crack.

      Response Patterns

      When describing a problem as a hard nut to crack:

      • Agreement/Shared struggle: Tell me about it! I'm stuck too. / Yeah, it's really tough.
      • Offering help: Maybe we can figure it out together?
      • Suggesting a different approach: Have you tried looking at it this way?

      When describing a person as a hard nut to crack:

      • Agreement: I know, right? Very reserved. / He definitely doesn't give much away.
      • Sharing experiences: I found that too when I tried to...
      • Offering advice (less common): Maybe try approaching him about...

      Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

      After identifying a problem as a hard nut to crack:

      • Discussing potential solutions or strategies.
      • Deciding to take a break or seek help.

      After identifying a person as a hard nut to crack:

      • Discussing strategies for dealing with them.
      • Sharing anecdotes about interactions.
      • Expressing frustration or admiration for their resolve.

      Conversation Starter

      • No.
      • Used to describe a specific problem or person currently being discussed.

      Intonation

      • Stress usually falls on hard and nut.
      • Can be said with frustration (about a problem) or a mix of respect and difficulty (about a person).
      • This problem is a HARD NUT to crack.
      • She's a HARD NUT to crack.

      Generation Differences

      • Widely understood and used across generations.

      Regional Variations

      • Common in all major English-speaking regions.
      Gravy train
      🎲 In a pickle