Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“We dealt with some tough cookies. They were like, ‘Who do these girls think they are?’”
- Actress and clothing designer Ashley Olsen, on trying to earn respect in the fashion industry. (Us Weekly)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
tough, determined person
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
A cookie is something sweet and tempting. So it makes sense that the slang term “cookie” is used to talk about attractive young women.
But what about a tough cookie? That sounds a little less appealing.
A tough cookie is a person who is strong and determined. Tough cookies usually get what they want because they refuse to compromise or give up.
A real cookie that’s tough is hard to chew. In the same way, sometimes a person who is a tough cookie is difficult to deal with. Actress Ashely Olsen, who’s best known for playing Michelle Tanner on Full House, says she and her twin sister, Mary-Kate, had to deal with a lot of tough cookies when they were trying to break into the fashion industry. A lot of the other designers they met didn’t believe they really had the talent to make it in the world of high fashion.
But Ashley and Mary-Kate must be tough cookies themselves. They made a risky choice by trying out a new career. Then again, they probably had a lot of help from their rich and famous friends. So maybe they aren’t tough cookies after all.
Are you a tough cookie? Who is the toughest cookie you know?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“Maggie is a tough cookie. She never backs down in a fight.”
“Carrie might seem sweet, but she’s really a tough cookie.”
“My grandmother is 100 years old and still going strong. She’s one tough cookie!”