A nose out of joint

December 11th, 2008 at 07:00am Barry Wood

I recently ran across a description of someone as “a tough-nosed prosecutor.” This turns a compliment into a strange image.

It was probably a mix of two phrases: “tough-minded” and “hard-nosed.” They convey similar ideas.

The former, “tough-minded,” means “shrewd and unsentimental; practical; realistic.” The informal “hard-nosed” is defined as “indomitable; tough; stubborn” or “shrewd and practical.”

Either one works as a desirable quality in a prosecutor.

I can only imagine that “tough-nosed” would mean “able to take a punch,” also desirable, but (I hope) not needed much in that line of work.

The lesson: Don’t tamper with set phrases. Accept no substitutes.

Entry Filed under: set phrases, word choices