when the going gets tough, the tough get going
phrase
—used to say that when there are problems, strong people work hard to solve them
Cite this Entry
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/when%20the%20going%20gets%20tough%2C%20the%20tough%20get%20going. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
