hard-boiled meaning

Hard-boiled

Definition:

1. Literal Meaning:

   • Cooking: Eggs that have been boiled in their shells until both the white and the yolk have completely solidified.

2. Figurative Meaning:

   • Personality: Describes a person who is tough, unsentimental, and pragmatic, often used to depict characters in detective or crime fiction who are unemotional and direct.

Usage:

1. Cooking:

   • “I prefer hard-boiled eggs in my salad.”

2. Personality:

   • “The detective was hard-boiled, showing little emotion even in the face of danger.”

Etymology:

• Origin: Dating back to the 19th century, it comes from the process of boiling eggs until they become hard. The figurative sense of developing a tough or unyielding personality evolved from the idea of being ‘hardened’ by experience.

Pronunciation:

• /ˈhɑːrd.bɔɪld/

Synonyms:

1. Cooking:

   • Firm-boiled (less common)

2. Personality:

   • Tough
   • Uncompromising
   • Stoic
   • Resilient

Antonyms:

1. Cooking:

   • Soft-boiled (for eggs)

2. Personality:

   • Sensitive
   • Sentimental
   • Emotional
   • Compassionate

3. The detective was a hard-boiled investigator, known for his no-nonsense approach to solving crimes in the gritty city streets.

4. She preferred her eggs hard-boiled in the morning for a nutritious and filling breakfast.

5. In the film, the hard-boiled protagonist faced impossible odds but never backed down from a challenge.

6. The hard-boiled mystery novel kept readers on the edge of their seats with its twists and dark characters.

7. After a long day at work, he needed a hard-boiled egg to satisfy his hunger before dinner.

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