hard case
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A tough person.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Because he is in the police force, Andy is a hard case.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
An amusing, funny, witty, or possibly strange person.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hard case” mean?
A tough person.
Is “hard case” formal or informal?
hard case is generally derogatory, slang.