Whats the origin of the phrase a sledgehammer to crack a nut. To crack the whip in the figurative sense is from 1886. You can complete the definition of to crack egg nut given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries. Hard nut to crack definition, a dry fruit consisting of an edible kernel or meat enclosed in a woody or leathery shell. John todd was always entertaining to children as he taught. Dec 03, 2019 today, mr worthington, an engineer, said.
Looking for online definition of a hard nut to crack in the medical dictionary. A sledgehammer to crack a nut definition and meaning. What is the meaning of the idiom a hard nut to crack answers. But prompt treatment offers the best chance of saving your tooth and preventing. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Definition of a hard nut to crack from the collins english dictionary. A tough nut to crack definition and meaning collins. What is the meaning of the idiom a nut to crack answers. A tough nut to crack definition and meaning collins english. Nutcracker definition of nutcracker by merriamwebster.
Definition of crack written for english language learners from the merriamwebster learners dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and countnoncount noun labels. A tough nut to crack phrase definition and synonyms. Oddly, although the common form is now a sledgehammer to crack a nut, the first examples of that in print date from as late as the 1950s. Cocky, staring at the open door, was in just the stage of determining whether or not he should more closely inspect that crack of exit to the wider world, which inspection, in turn, would determine whether or not he should venture out through the crack, when his eyes beheld the eyes of the second discoverer staring in.
A hard nut to crack definition and meaning collins. View american english definition of a tough nut to crack. Meaning of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut medical term. A hard nut to crack definition of a hard nut to crack by. Sending three officers over simply to give a warning about kids playing football in the street is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
If you say that someone is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, you mean that they are. Toughnuttocrack dictionary definition toughnuttocrack. Good luck with getting him to agree hes a tough nut to crack. The desire to push the boundaries has been a motivator in many a daring expedition, testing the human spirit and physical abilities to the utmost. Tough nut to crack synonyms, tough nut to crack antonyms. Looking for online definition of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut in the medical dictionary. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. Meaning of taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut as a finance term. While most people are, no doubt, all for continuing to improve standards, it seems the powers that be are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Find descriptive alternatives for tough nut to crack. Crack verb definition and synonyms macmillan dictionary. My brother is such a hard nut to crack, its almost impossible to understand and persuade him. An indehiscent fruit having a single seed enclosed in a hard shell, such as an. Search to crack egg nut and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso.
Definition of a hard nut to crack in the idioms dictionary. Hard nut to crack definition of hard nut to crack at. Crack definition is to make a very sharp explosive sound. A nutcracker is used to crack the hard outer shell which encases a nut, allowing us to get at the nut inside. Definition of hard nut to crack in the idioms dictionary. Recent examples on the web french doors lead to a tall nutcracker on the balcony. Synonyms for tough nut to crack at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. A charming book, reprinted from the 19th century, full of stories to get boys thinking about the heavenly meaning found in ordinary, earthly stuff. Ive been dating jenny for over a year, and i still think shes a hard nut to crack. Your wording in your submission is that, to your mind, the disciplinary process used a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Oct 14, 2019 tough nut to crack plural tough nuts to crack a problem that is challenging to solve. What does taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut mean in finance.
To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut means to use disproportionate force or expense to overcome a minor problem. Tools can increase the force upon the area in contact and thus help the breakin, so to speak, yet even then, there may be other tools to gain better access afterwards. Change your default dictionary to american english. A nut is a kind of fruit made of a large, edible seed with a very hard shell around it. This is the british english definition of a tough nut to crack.
Figuring out the best way to modernize our product without alienating existing customers is definitely a hard nut to crack. Sledgehammers are large iron hammers that were first used in england in the 15th century. Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut definition of using a. Some nuts are hard to crack, while others are easy, but this can only be determined by context. A complete crack or split of such nuts requires tools of some kind, or procedures that weaken the outer shell. A sledgehammer to crack a nut definition in the cambridge. While a crack can be repaired, a cracked tooth will never be 100 percent healed, unlike a broken bone might be. Oct 16, 2017 while a crack can be repaired, a cracked tooth will never be 100 percent healed, unlike a broken bone might be. Definition and synonyms of a tough nut to crack from the online english dictionary from macmillan education.
Meaning and use in sentence idioms for daily life, we provide good quality idioms,and their usage in daily life. Nut crack night is defined by the lexicographers at oxford dictionaries as halloween. Definition of taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut in the financial dictionary by free online english dictionary and encyclopedia. Crack definition for englishlanguage learners from.
What is the meaning of the idiom a hard nut to crack. Taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut financial definition of. Definition and synonyms of crack from the online english dictionary from macmillan education. The definition of tough nut to crack is someone who it is hard to get close to, hard to get to know or hard to understand. I think they are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut here, he said. What does using a sledgehammer to crack a nut mean. Whether our current usage derived as a rewording of the crack a peanut or the crack a gnat version isnt clear perhaps something of both. Asked in word and phrase origins, idioms, cliches, and slang what is the meaning of. Nutcrack night meaning of nutcrack night by lexico. A hard nut to crack idiom look at the picture and try to guess the meaning of the idiom a hard nut to crack.