Hello and welcome!
Our idiom this week is a hard (tough) nut to crack.
The Idioms.com tells us this phrase means:
a problem that is difficult to solve
a person that is difficult to deal with
someone or something that is difficult to understand or
a person hard to get to know or to get close to
This expression is a metaphor alluding to the tough exterior of a nutshell and how hard they are to crack open. It has been in use since the 1700s.
Have you ever used this expression?
Don't Eat It! Soap and Skin Care 
I have used it in the past Ruth … my mom had a treasure trove of expressions she used over the years, some I suspect she got from her mom, or were just trendy at the time, but I picked them up too.
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I sometimes wince when I hear my mom’s words coming out of my mouth. Now I suspect my girls are doing the same. 🙂
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Ha ha – I have a lot of idioms I use that were “passed down” – hope you fared okay with the storms and rain last night Ruth. I heard Detroit Metro winds were clocked at 62 mph for the Wednesday afternoon storm and we had 2.73 inches of rain. I hope that did not do the rest of your gardens in.
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We didn’t have any wind damage and our power stayed on. It’s too soon to know the effects on the garden but we sure didn’t need it.
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Glad you had no wind damage or power outage – I was amazed the total number of power outages across Michigan. Some DTE people won’t get it back until Sunday night even with all the out-of state help. Fall cannot come soon enough … only if it is cooler, less-volatile weather. Hope it didn’t wreak too much havoc on your garden. No rain now until late Tuesday, but not much is what I’m hearing.
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I am going to do a garden update – I’ve just been having a hard time because I like to keep things positive and this year gardening has not been good. Looks like it will be a pleasant weekend. Enjoy!
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Yes, you do – maybe show what you have “put up” this year or your husband’s birthday pie. 🙂 Yes, a coolish weekend. Enjoy!
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I use it from time to time mostly to describe someone smart yet mysterious.
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I usually connect it with people who are hard to understand or get to know (mysterious) as well.
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I’ve heard it many times but it’s not one of my go-tos. I might start having to use it!
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I haven’t used it but I know some people who this would describe.
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Me too!
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Interesting that it has been used since the 1700s , I can’t recall ever using it. I have been trying to pay more attention to expressions I use since you started this series, and I dont find I use many idioms. I have seen several variety of nut trees growing here on the mountain. The critters love them.
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We have found that the hickories are “a tough nut to crack” and have decided to leave them for the critters who were born to crack nuts. 🙂
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Thank you for reminding me to check out hickory nut grove. The squirrels usually end up with most of them.
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Since we realized how much work it was to get the little bit of meat out we decided that the squirrels could have ours. They are abundant this year – the squirrels should be well fed.
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