hard case

[/hɑrd keɪs/]
nounpl: hard cases
caso difícil; pessoa difícil; indivíduo obstinado
1. a person who is difficult to deal with, stubborn, or uncompromising
He's a hard case when it comes to accepting criticism.
Ele é um cara difícil quando se trata de aceitar críticas.
2. a difficult or challenging situation or problem
This legal case is turning out to be a hard case to crack.
Este caso legal está se tornando um caso difícil de resolver.
3. a tough, hardened, or cynical person, especially a criminal or troublemaker
The detective recognized him as a hard case from the old neighborhood.
O detetive o reconheceu como um tipo duro do bairro antigo.
In American English, 'hard case' often refers to someone who is tough, experienced, or hardened by life experiences, frequently associated with law enforcement or criminal contexts. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'cara difícil' or 'tipo duro' carries similar connotations but may emphasize obstinacy rather than toughness. The term reflects cultural attitudes toward stubbornness and resilience in both cultures.
NYC Slang
hard case; tough guy; hardened criminal; someone who doesn't budge easily
Synonyms / Sinônimos
tough customerdifficult personstubborn individualtough nut to crackhardened criminal
Antonyms / Antônimos
pushovereasy casecooperative personamenable individual

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
cara difícil; tipo duro; caso complicado
commonly used in both formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
malandragem; tipo bravo; sujeito bravo
may emphasize criminal or street-tough connotation
São Paulo
pessoa obstinada; caso difícil de resolver
more formal usage in professional contexts
Portugal
tipo duro; pessoa de trato difícil; caso complexo
similar usage but less common in contemporary Portuguese

Related Words

tough luckdifficult situationintransigentobstinatestubbornhardenedcriminal

Related Idioms & Phrases

a hard case to crack
tough nut to crack
a tough customer
a hard row to hoe
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