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hard-nosed (adj.)
"stubborn," 1927, from hard (adj.) + nose (n.). Earlier of bullets or shells with hard tips, and of dogs that had difficulty following a scent. Not in common use before 1950s, when it begins to be applied to tough or relentless characters generally (Damon Runyon characters, U.S. Marines, Princeton professors, etc.). Soft-nosed seems to have been used only of bullets.
updated on October 10, 2017
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Dictionary entries near hard-nosed
hard-hearted
hardihood
hard-line
hardly
hardness
hard-nosed
hard-on
hardscrabble
hard-shell
hardship
hardtack