more hard-nosed

Despite the cuddly nature of the subject matter it will be more hard-nosed legal battle than pillow fight.

USC also must look ahead to next season, when its move to the Big Ten seems to present a need for more hard-nosed play to win in a conference with several defense-first teams and what’s perceived as a more physical mindset.

Francis was reluctant to talk about whether that extra body would be a minor league goal scorer such as Kole Lind or a more hard-nosed John Hayden, a player known for dropping his gloves and fighting at the NHL level.

But a senior State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy, said that Biden sees no tension between values like human rights and more hard-nosed American interests and argues they can in fact reinforce one another.

Both teams are bracing for even more hard-nosed play in Game 4 on Monday, and Antetokoumpo sounded almost eager at the thought.