[Ads-l] Tough luck!

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED: 1912

Note that 1874 is sarcastic. which seems to me to be the more common
nuance. (Cf. "Tough!")

1871  _Chicago Tribune_ (March 12) 3:  The latter's small score was the
aggregation of several 2 and 3 runs, combined with tough luck in the way of
leaves, kisses, and close misses.

1873 New Hampshire Sentinel (Keene, New Hampshire) (Aug. 21)  1:  Uncle
Simon was surprised to see the bottom of the meal chest. "Tough luck!" said
he briefly, "but there's swamp pork to eke it out."

1874 _Daily Constitution_ (Middletown, Conn.) (June 29) 2: The young man is
banished to the Caucassus [sic] for life [for handing stolen diamonds over
to his paramour] and has been deprived of the Cross of St. George which he
had just won distinguished service in the Khivan campaign. Tough luck!

Newspaper exx. explode at this point, suggesting that the phrase had been
around for some time.

The "1832" at Google Books is bogus.

JL
-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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