maintain tough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain tough" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of staying strong or resilient in a challenging situation, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "In difficult times, it's important to maintain tough and not give up."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He then reiterated the Conservative party's stance on drugs: treat people with addictions, but maintain tough laws against traffickers, "who profit off of destroying people's health".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He is also right that Europeans are free to choose: for instance, to tolerate more unemployment if that is the price of greater wage equality, or to maintain tougher planning controls even if they slow economic growth.But sometimes he presents the reader with false dilemmas.

The Economist

Since then, the regime has maintained tough censorship laws and imposed long prison terms for dissent.

The New Yorker

A7 Israel Tightens Restrictions Israel ordered additional troops to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and maintained tough restrictions on Palestinian movements in those areas.

The New York Times

This Government has maintained tough controls on that, but it has relaxed it somewhat and within the last few months plans have been put in place to get big infrastructure projects moving with the support of the Government.

Independent

Faced with dozens of warnings of possible new Palestinian attacks, Israel ordered additional troops to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and maintained tough restrictions on Palestinian movements in those areas.

The New York Times

They also point to King's Academy in Middlesborough, the second Vardy school, which has a diverse intake including a quarter with special needs, and maintains tough discipline without mass expulsions.It is hard to imagine a more crucial test of the government's education policy.

The Economist

A big public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, has maintained tough screening procedures for mail ever since a letter bomb -- ultimately shown to have been sent by the Unabomber -- killed one of its former executives at his home in North Caldwell, N.J., in 1994.

The New York Times

But with Egypt and Israel maintaining tough controls on Gaza's borders it will find it hard to replenish its depleted stockpiles.

BBC

The understanding of both environmental effects (typically oxidation) and creep of a candidate CMC are critical for maintaining tough composite performance for longer service lives at the highest temperatures.

Comprehensive Composite Materials II

Unlike its fellow South American nations, it has embraced left-leaning politics while maintaining tough anti-inflationary discipline - an approach which its electorate looks set to endorse at the polls.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "maintain tough" with more standard phrases like "maintain strict standards" or "stay strong" depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "tough" directly after "maintain" without a noun. Instead, specify what is being maintained, such as "maintain tough standards" or "maintain a tough stance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain tough" functions as a verb + adjective combination. The purpose is likely to convey the idea of preserving something with strength or firmness. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not grammatically sound and may require rephrasing for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "maintain tough" appears in some contexts, it is not considered standard English and should be used with caution. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically questionable and can be improved by using more precise and grammatically correct alternatives such as "maintain strict standards", "stay strong" or other alternatives. Although it appears in News & Media and Science contexts, these instances are infrequent. For clarity and professionalism, particularly in formal writing, it's advisable to opt for grammatically sound and widely accepted phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uphold rigorous

Emphasizes the act of supporting or defending a strict standard or practice.

preserve stringent

Highlights the effort to keep severe or demanding conditions in place.

sustain firm

Focuses on the continuation of a solid or unyielding position or policy.

keep up robust

Implies the maintenance of something strong and healthy.

continue strict

Highlights the ongoing nature of a severe or exacting rule or approach.

retain unyielding

Focuses on holding onto a position that is inflexible and firm.

hold steady

Suggests maintaining a consistent and stable course or condition.

stay strong

Advises to keep a good moral or physical condition during difficult times.

stick with unbending

Refers to continue supporting an unwavering, firm, or resolute approach.

enforce rigorously

Implies the strict application of a rule or regulation.

FAQs

What does "maintain tough" mean?

The phrase "maintain tough" is not standard English. It seems to suggest upholding a strong or firm condition, but it's grammatically awkward. Using phrases like "maintain strict standards" or "stay strong" are better alternatives.

How can I use "maintain tough" correctly in a sentence?

While "maintain tough" isn't grammatically correct, you can rephrase your sentence for clarity. For example, instead of "We need to maintain tough", try "We need to "maintain strict discipline"" or "We need to "remain resilient"".

Which is correct: "maintain tough" or "maintain toughness"?

"Maintain toughness" is grammatically correct because "toughness" is a noun. "Maintain tough", however, is not correct since "tough" is an adjective and needs a noun to describe, as in "maintain tough standards".

What are some alternatives to "maintain tough"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "maintain tough" include "uphold rigorous", "preserve stringent", or "sustain firm". The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.