hard-nosed

Questions

What does hard-nosed mean?

Guided by practical experience and observation rather than by theory.

Where does hard-nosed come from?

hard + nosed; originally referred to hard-tipped bullets.

How to pronounce hard-nosed

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hard-nosed”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “hard-nosed”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “hard-nosed” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.