hård knog
/hɒːd knɔːɡ/
DA
A literal phrase meaning 'hard bone', commonly used idiomatically in Danish to describe a tough, resilient, or hard-nosed person.
Han er en hård knog, der aldrig giver op.
He's a tough guy who never gives up.
Etymology
The phrase combines the Old Norse-derived adjective hård (meaning hard) and knog (meaning bone), from Old Danish knōg. It developed its idiomatic meaning of a tough person by the 19th century through colloquial Danish speech.
Memory Aid
Think of 'hard bone' — a hard bone is tough and unbreakable, just like the person this phrase describes.
Collocations
være en hård knogrigtig hård knoggammel hård knog
Synonyms
hård hundsejt menneske
Antonyms
blød mandskrøbelig person