Tough call Meaning in English
expression
ˈtəf/ /ˈkɔɫ
TUHF-kawl
tˈʌf/ /kˈɔːl
TUHF-kawl
Definition
A situation or decision that is very difficult to make because the options are equally good or bad.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, often used in conversation when making decisions is especially difficult. Not about phone calls—refers to choices. Common with 'It's a tough call,' 'That was a tough call.' Can be used for judging, choosing, or deciding.
Spanish: decisión difícil - elección complicadaPortuguese (BR): decisão difícil - escolha complicadaPortuguese (PT): decisão difícil - escolha complicadaChinese (Simplified): 艰难的决定 - 难以抉择Chinese (Traditional): 艱難的決定 - 難以抉擇Hindi: कठिन फैसला - मुश्किल निर्णयArabic: قرار صعب - اختيار صعبBengali: কঠিন সিদ্ধান্ত - কঠিন পছন্দRussian: сложный выбор - трудное решениеJapanese: 難しい決断 - 難しい選択Vietnamese: quyết định khó khănKorean: 어려운 결정 - 힘든 선택Turkish: zor kararUrdu: مشکل فیصلہIndonesian: pilihan sulit - keputusan sulit
Example Sentences
It was a tough call to choose between the two job offers.
basic
Deciding where to live was a tough call for my family.
basic
It’s a tough call whether to save or spend the money.
basic
Choosing my major was a tough call, but I went with engineering.
natural
Honestly, it’s a tough call—both movies look great.
natural
That was a tough call for the referee, but he had to make a decision.
natural