Phrase guide

when the going gets tough, the tough get going

proverb · 1 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

proverb

Meaning 1

In difficult times, it is the strong-willed who take action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: c'est quand le jeu devient dur que les durs commencent à jouer — in difficult times the strong-willed take action
  • Italian: quando il gioco si fa duro, i duri cominciano a giocare — in difficult times the strong-willed take action