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be hard

[/bi hɑːrd/]
verb phrase
ser difícil; estar duro
1. to be difficult or challenging
This exam is going to be hard.
Este exame vai ser difícil.
2. to be firm, solid, or not soft to the touch
The mattress is too hard for me.
O colchão está muito duro para mim.
3. to be severe, harsh, or unkind
He can be hard on his employees.
Ele pode ser duro com seus funcionários.
4. to experience hardship or difficulty
Times have been hard for our family.
Os tempos têm sido difíceis para nossa família.
NYC Slang
be rough; be tough; be straight up
Synonyms
be difficultbe challengingbe toughbe firmbe solidbe harshbe severe
Antonyms
be easybe softbe gentlebe kind

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser difícil; estar duro
most common usage
Rio de Janeiro
ser complicado; estar duro
colloquial alternative
São Paulo
ser difícil; estar duro
standard usage
Portugal
ser difícil; estar duro
standard European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

be hard as nails
be hard as a rock
be hard put to do something
hard as iron
the hard way
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