Cool MateTough vs Winters in __ are murder
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Tough
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Winters in __ are murder
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: ToughMost common: Tough
| Tough | Winters in __ are murder | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʌf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʌf/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈwɪntəz ɪn əˈmɜːdə//🇺🇸 //ˈwɪntərz ɪn əˈmɜrdər// |
| Meaning | Hard or difficult to deal with | Winters in this place are very harsh. |
| Example | The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place. | Winters in New York are murder for those not used to the cold. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, be, become, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, with, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very | winters are tough, murderous cold, harsh winters, frigid temperatures |
| Antonyms | easy, soft, gentle | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'tough' as a noun — 'He is a tough' should be 'He is tough'., Confusing 'tough' with 'though' in casual speech., Overusing 'tough' in contexts where 'difficult' is more suitable. | Confusing with 'Winters in __ are hard' which is less expressive., Using in very formal writing, where it's not appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use 'tough' to describe something that is difficult, whether it's a situation or a person’s character. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may sound too informal in very serious discussions. | This phrase is used to emphasize the severity of winter. It's informal and often used in conversation or storytelling. |
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Frequently asked questions: Tough vs Winters in __ are murder
What's the difference between Tough and Winters in __ are murder?
Tough: Hard or difficult to deal with Winters in __ are murder: Winters in this place are very harsh.
Which is more formal: Tough and Winters in __ are murder?
Tough is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Tough and Winters in __ are murder?
Tough is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Tough: The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place. Winters in __ are murder: Winters in New York are murder for those not used to the cold.
Can I use Tough and Winters in __ are murder interchangeably?
Not always. Tough and Winters in __ are murder are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.