A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note: 
The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with
the phrase hard currency— = hard money 2: The trade imbal-
ance and the drain of gold and hard currency reserves have
lessened.
See also: soft currency / soft money.
hard nut to crack • hard row to hoe
hard nut to crack —(also: tough nut to crack) 
1
. a difficult
problem or task to undertake: Opinions vary, but the consen-
sus is that the target is a hard nut to crack. 2. a difficult person
to deal with: We all know that President Mugabe is not an
easy man to bend. He is a hard nut to crack.
Note:
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase crack a nut—(UK dated) drink a glass of liquor: When
a fresh guest arrived he was met by the laird, who made him
“crack a nut,” that is, drink a silver-mounted cocoanut-shell
full of claret.
hard row to hoe—(also: tough row to hoe) = hard nut to crack
1
: Even without money problems, many divorced single parents
have a hard row to hoe.
hang up one’s fiddle
– 160 –

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Note: 
Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase
hard act to follow
—(also: tough act to follow) used of an out-
standing individual or a particularly good performance that will
be difficult to emulate: The previous night’s incredible jazz ses-
sion was a hard act to follow.
hard time • hard times
hard time —
1
. an unpleasant or distressing experience :
Dozier had a hard time finding a publisher for her book. 2.
(Underworld) a prison sentence: How much hard time does
he have behind him?
hard times —a period of economic depression, poverty, etc.:
Maritime businesses took advantage of the hard times by
launching a campaign to break major union organizations.