Phrase guide

tough luck

intj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

intj

Meaning 1

Bad luck (often an unsympathetic retort to someone who is suffering a misfortune).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Your car broke down? Well, tough luck, you're due at work in 15 minutes. Better run.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Bad luck.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ill luck, unluck, adverseness, adversity, bad cess, bad luck, disadventure, hard luck, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, misluck, tough luck, unfortunateness, unluckiness

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: misfortune, bad luck, ill luck

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fortune, destiny, fate, luck, lot, circumstances, portion

Narrower terms: weakness, adversity, hardship, hard knocks, gutter, sewer, toilet, hard cheese

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: a to pech — Translations
  • Polish: masz ci los — Translations
  • Polish: masz babo placek — Translations
  • Spanish: jodida suerte — Translations