Tough row to hoe
Also, hard row to hoe. A difficult course, hard work to accomplish, as in He knew he’d have a tough row to hoe by running against this popular incumbent. [ First half of 1800s ]
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- Toughs
adjective, tougher, toughest. 1. strong and durable; not easily broken or cut. 2. not brittle or tender. 3. difficult to masticate, as food: a tough steak. 4. of viscous consistency, as liquid or semiliquid matter: tough molasses. 5. capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy: tough troops. 6. not easily influenced, as a person; unyielding; stubborn: […]
- Tough sell
tough nut to crack, a
- Tough shit
tough row to hoe, a
- Tough sledding
Difficult work or progress, as in This bill faces tough sledding in the legislature . This idiom transfers the route on which a sled can travel to other kinds of progress toward a goal. It was first recorded as hard sledding in 1839. For the antonym, see easy sledding
- Toughy
noun, plural toughies. 1. toughie. noun, Informal. 1. a tough person, especially one who is belligerent. 2. a difficult problem or situation: That math test was a real toughie! 3. a harsh or blunt book, movie, etc. tough customer