Fig. stern and unforgiving. Mr. Howe was known to be very hard-nosed, but he could really be friendly if you got to know him.
hard-nosed
practical and determined Keaton has a reputation as a hard-nosed businessman who always gets what he wants.The new hard-nosed management style is unpopular amongst employees.
hard-nosed
mod. stern and businesslike; unsympathetic. It takes a hard-nosed manager to run a place like this.