Question

Choose the most appropriate meaning of the underlined word:
That was the tough life I had.
a)Difficult
b)Soft
c)Cheap
d)Simple

Answer 1

Hint: Tough refers to something that is difficult or arduous to perform or achieve. It is an adjective that describes the demanding nature of something.

Complete step-by-step answer:

 The word tough has been derived from the Dutch word- taai.
We know the meaning and origin of tough, let’s look at its usage:
Example- I had a very tough exam yesterday. Here, we can understand that X had to take a very difficult exam yesterday.
Let’s examine the given options:
a)Difficult- We use ‘difficult’ to refer to something that is strenuous and hard. It is similar in meaning to tough. Hence, it is the correct option.
b)Soft- We use ‘soft’ to refer to someone or something that is gentle and polite. It is different in meaning to tough. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c)Cheap- We use ‘cheap’ to refer to something that is inexpensive or low-cost. It is different in meaning to tough. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d)Simple- We use ‘simple’ to refer to someone or something that is common or usual. It is different in meaning to tough. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘a’.

Note: Someone with a tough personality can handle difficult situations and people or anything that is thrown on them. Here, we have used tough in a different context.