Something which is messy or difficult to deal with or manage. Obsolete. rare.

With allusion to the difficulty of cracking hard-shelled nuts: a difficult question or problem; a matter or undertaking difficult to accomplish…

figurative. A person supposed to resemble a Tartar in disposition; a rough and violent or irritable and intractable person.

colloquial. A difficult or unpleasant situation or thing.

figurative. As much as one can manage; someone or something which is troublesome or difficult to control or deal with. Cf. to have one's hands full…

Something that tickles or is used for tickling. A thing (or person) difficult to deal with or understand; a teaser; a puzzler (colloquial).

slang (chiefly Australian). A tough or indomitable person or animal; (also) a reprobate, a ‘hard case’. (as) game as a pebble: extremely…

a person who is difficult or dangerous to deal with; an unscrupulous person; cf. hard case, n. 3b.

a person difficult or dangerous to deal with.

colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). A person who is difficult or unpleasant to deal with, spec. a grouchy, bad-tempered person.

As the name of a male person of a particular class. English regional (Yorkshire). A difficult person to deal with. rare.

Something that is trying or difficult, or that tries one's patience or mettle.

= pebble, n. 4.

A formidable, extraordinary, or terrible thing; spec. a particularly cold winter or day; an intense winter storm.

A quantity that fills or comprises a paw; (more generally) a good amount. Also: figurative something that is difficult to deal with or control (cf. ha…

slang. U.S. A troublesome person or thing. rare (apparently disused).

As predicate, with to and infinitive. Something which is difficult, awkward, etc., to deal with, manage, etc. Cf. bugger, n.1 4a.

A difficult problem, enterprise, or contest.

With negative connotation. An unpleasant, difficult, formidable, or oppressive thing, situation, place, etc. Also in weakened use and neutrally…

A tough or uncompromising person.