hard-nosed

adjective
UK: /ˌhɑːdˈnəʊzd/
US: /ˌhɑːrdˈnoʊzd/

  1. Unemotional and practical; determined and not easily persuaded to change your mind.

    1. She is a hard-nosed negotiator, getting the best deals.
    2. The company took a hard-nosed approach to cutting costs during the recession.

  2. Realistic and tough, especially in business or politics.

    1. He's known as a hard-nosed businessman who always puts profit first.
    2. The mayor's hard-nosed policies have improved the city's financial situation.

Synonyms

tough pragmatic realistic unsentimental callous ruthless

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hard-nosed" in English means: Unemotional and practical; determined and not easily persuaded to change your mind., Realistic and tough, especially in business or politics..

The phonetic transcription of "hard-nosed" is /ˌhɑːdˈnəʊzd/ in British English and /ˌhɑːrdˈnoʊzd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hard-nosed": tough, pragmatic, realistic, unsentimental, callous, ruthless.

Example usage of "hard-nosed": "She is a hard-nosed negotiator, getting the best deals.". More examples on the page.