meaning of the phrase when the going gets tough the tough get going
When the going gets tough, the tough get going The phrase is a play on words involving idiomatic (Proverb) and distinct meanings of "go" and "tough." In context, "the going" means "the situation," "gets tough" means "becomes difficult," "the tough" means "people who are strong or enduring," and "get going" means "become fully engaged." Taken together, the meaning of the phrase is "When the situation becomes difficult, the strong will become engaged."
Fight the Good Fight The hymn is based on the King James Bible's version of Paul's First Epistle to Timothy, Chapter 6, verse 12: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."[4] The hymn lyrics urge the listener to "Fight the good fight," "lay hold on life," "run the straight race," "cast care aside", and "faint not nor fear."[1]