What it means
Means you can cope, keep up, and handle a rough situation without melting down. If someone says Can you hack it? they’re testing whether you’ve got the stamina and nerve for the job, the course, the shift, whatever. You’ll hear it a lot as can’t hack it too, for when someone’s flagging, stressing, or ready to jack it in.
Usage examples
"Can you hack another night shift at Tesco? I’m on my last legs, mate. If Dave calls in sick again, I’m off to the chippy."
"The first week of night shifts was brutal, but he can hack it."
"She quit after a month, just couldn't hack it."
"I thought the training would break me, but after week two I could hack it just fine."
"He talks big, but stick him on a double shift and he can't hack it."
Where it comes from
Built on hack, to chop or cut your way through. To hack it is to push through a tough job or stretch without cracking, and can't hack it is the flip for when someone caves.
