be a tough crowd

Meaning

This casual idiom describes an audience that is very difficult to please, entertain, or amuse. It is heavily used by stand-up comedians, public speakers, and performers when the crowd does not react or laugh.

Examples

• I told three of my best jokes, but they just stared at me—they were a tough crowd.

  I told three of my best jokes, but they just stared at me—they were a tough crowd.

• The stand-up comedian complained that the Friday night audience was a tough crowd.

  The stand-up comedian complained that the Friday night audience was a tough crowd.

• Don't worry if they don't laugh much; corporate executives are always a tough crowd.

  Don't worry if they don't laugh much; corporate executives are always a tough crowd.

• We played our new songs, but the teenagers in the front row were a tough crowd to please.

  We played our new songs, but the teenagers in the front row were a tough crowd to please.

• It's hard to perform when you feel like you're facing a tough crowd.

  It's hard to perform when you feel like you're facing a tough crowd.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The audience was a hard crowd tonight.

  ✓ The audience was a tough crowd tonight.

  The idiomatic expression specifically uses the word 'tough', not 'hard' or 'difficult'.

• ✗ They were a tough crowd audience.

  ✓ They were a tough crowd.

  'Crowd' already refers to the audience, so adding the word 'audience' right after it is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The comedian sweated on stage because the people in the club proved to ___.

  💡 To be an audience that is very difficult to make laugh.

  Show answer

  be a tough crowd

• I tried to pitch my business idea, but the investors turned out to ___.

  💡 Be very critical and hard to impress.

  Show answer

  be a tough crowd