Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (orig. US) unfortunate or unpleasant circumstances; used as v., to deal with difficult circumstances.

1940		M. Kantor Signal Thirty-two [ebook] ‘That’s tough shit,’ the trooper muttered sympathetically.
1951		R. Leveridge Walk on the Water 53: He did not care if Adams was a queer or not. That was Adams’ tough shit.
1962		(con. 1940s) G. Mandel Wax Boom 215: Well, that’s just tough shit, Mr. Topkick.
1966		12 TAC FTR WG Song Book 9: When then MIG call is on / And your radar is gone / That's tuff shitsky.
1970		Tharunka (Kensington, NSW) 15 July 5: [W]hich [revolution]may be all very exciting for the political adventurers but tough shit for the rest.
1973		S. Ace Stand On It (1979) 55: That fact appears in your driver’s manual under the chapter heading of Tough Shit.
1976		‘Johnny Rotten’ on Bill Grundy Show 2 Dec. [TV interview] ‘Tough shit,’ said Rotten to laughter from his friends .
1977		(con. 1960s) D. Goines Black Gangster (1991) 94: That’s tough shit, baby.
2010		(con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 64: Fuck all of us and tough shit, too.
2019		Detroit Free Press 14 Apr. 16A/2: ‘Excuse me, I have a complaint,’ she said in mock outrage. ‘Tough shit’.
2021		P Howard Braywatch 302: ‘You fuck your mother’s friends and this is what happen. Is tough shit for you’.
2022		J. Hannaham Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit 264: I might’s well tough shit out here. I done toughed some worse shit in prison.

2. of drink, powerful.

1970

G. Scott-Heron Vulture (1996) 94: He took another swig from the wine bottle and grimaced [...] ‘This iz tough shit.’.

3. (Aus.) one who believes themselves to be tough.

2012

(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Irish Fandango [ebook] ‘Righto, toughshit. [...] I think you’re a fucking malingerer who’s gone over the fence’.