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hardened

asaisaio

Banned
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"Over the last two decades, attitudes toward gambling became permissive as those toward drugs and tobacco hardened."
What's the meaning of "hardened" in this sentence? Thanks in advance!
Here, 'hardened' means something like 'became less tolerant'. I'm not sure it's the most appropriate choice of word, but from context the meaning is quite clear as it is meant to be the opposite of 'became permissive'.

The sentence appears to have been lifted from Economics by Paul E. Samuelson. Google Books preview here.
Here, 'hardened' means something like 'became less tolerant'. I'm not sure it's the most appropriate choice of word, but from context the meaning is quite clear as it is meant to be the opposite of 'became permissive'.

The sentence appears to have been lifted from Economics by Paul E. Samuelson. Google Books preview here.

Do you mean that the meaning of the sentence is "people can gamble when they are not permitted to use drugs or tobacco"? That is, gambling is permitted, but drugs and tobacco are not permitted.
Do you mean that the meaning of the sentence is "people can gamble when they are not permitted to use drugs or tobacco"? That is, gambling is permitted, but drugs and tobacco are not permitted.
No.

The sentence means: "Over the last two decades, the general population have been objecting less and less to gambling but their objections to drugs and tobacco have increased."
No.The sentence means: "Over the last two decades, the general population have been objecting less and less to gambling but their objections to drugs and tobacco have increased."
Hello PaulQ. Because we know that many people obect to drugs and tobacco. If the attitudes of these people harden, it means that their objections are increasing. Am I right ?
Hello PaulQ. Because we know that many people obect to drugs and tobacco. If the attitudes of these people harden, it means that their objections are increasing. Am I right ?

No. The of objections doesn't necessarily change.

We speak metaphorically about attitudes, beliefs, etc. metaphorically as if they were some sort of viscous substance. The "harder" they get, the less likely they are to change.

"Less tolerant" is an example of "hardening" of attitudes, but it's not the definition.
...We speak metaphorically about attitudes, beliefs, etc. metaphorically as if they were some sort of viscous substance. The "harder" they get, the less likely they are to change...
Very helpful, Mr. sdgraham. Now I understand. Thank you very much 👁 Smile :)
The "harder" they get, the less likely they are to change.

Context would seem to speak against that interpretation of 'hardened' here (link in post #2, my bolding):
Gambling has historically been a "vice" that was — along with illegal drugs, commercial sex, alcohol, and tobacco — discouraged by the state. Attitudes about such activities ebb and flow. Over the last two decades, attitudes toward gambling became permissive as those toward drugs and tobacco hardened. Overall, gambling has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the (legal) economy.
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