50 Idioms for Difficult With Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Difficult
1. A hard nut to crack
Meaning: A difficult problem or person.
In a Sentence: That math problem is a hard nut to crack.
Other Ways to Say: Tough issue, difficult situation.
2. Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Stuck in a situation where both options are equally difficult or undesirable.
In a Sentence: Sara found herself between a rock and a hard place when she had to choose between studying for her test or attending her best friend’s birthday party.
Other Ways to Say: Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
3. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To endure a painful or unpleasant situation.
In a Sentence: I had to bite the bullet and pay the fine.
Other Ways to Say: Face the pain, endure hardship.
4. Caught between Scylla and Charybdis
Meaning: Facing a choice between two equally dangerous or harmful options.
In a Sentence: Sarah felt like she was caught between Scylla and Charybdis when she had to decide between staying in a toxic relationship or ending it and being alone.
Other Ways to Say: Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
5. Climb a steep hill
Meaning: Face a very difficult challenge.
In a Sentence: Learning a new language at 40 felt like climbing a steep hill.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle through, face a tough task.
6. Cut no ice
Meaning: Have no influence or effect.
In a Sentence: His excuse cut no ice with the teacher.
Other Ways to Say: Make no impact, be ineffective.
7. Easier said than done
Meaning: Something that is easy to say but difficult to do.
In a Sentence: Starting a business is easier said than done.
Other Ways to Say: Hard in practice, difficult to achieve.
8. Face the music
Meaning: Confront the consequences of one’s actions.
In a Sentence: He finally had to face the music after breaking the rules.
Other Ways to Say: Accept the consequences, take responsibility.
9. Get blood out of a stone
Meaning: Trying to achieve something very difficult or impossible.
In a Sentence: Getting him to apologize is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
Other Ways to Say: Near impossible, extremely hard.
10. Go through the mill
Meaning: To experience a difficult time.
In a Sentence: After losing her job and getting sick, she really went through the mill.
Other Ways to Say: Suffer hardships, go through tough times.
11. Grin and bear it
Meaning: Endure something unpleasant without complaining.
In a Sentence: I don’t like this job, but I’ll grin and bear it for now.
Other Ways to Say: Tolerate, accept unwillingly.
12. Hang by a thread
Meaning: Be in a very precarious or dangerous situation.
In a Sentence: His job is hanging by a thread after that mistake.
Other Ways to Say: On the edge, unstable.
13. Have a rough time
Meaning: Experience difficulty or trouble.
In a Sentence: She had a rough time after her parents separated.
Other Ways to Say: Go through hardships, suffer.
14. In deep water
Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulty.
In a Sentence: He’s in deep water with the law after that fraud.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, in hot water.
15. In over one’s head
Meaning: Involved in something too difficult.
In a Sentence: I was in over my head when I tried to fix the plumbing myself.
Other Ways to Say: Out of depth, overwhelmed.
16. It’s no picnic
Meaning: Something is not easy or enjoyable.
In a Sentence: Living on minimum wage is no picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Not easy, challenging.
17. Jump through hoops
Meaning: Go through many difficult steps to achieve something.
In a Sentence: I had to jump through hoops to get my visa approved.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle, work hard for approval.
18. Keep your chin up
Meaning: Stay strong and positive during difficult times.
In a Sentence: Keep your chin up—even this tough time will pass.
Other Ways to Say: Stay strong, remain positive.
19. Like pulling teeth
Meaning: Extremely difficult or unpleasant to do.
In a Sentence: Getting him to help with chores is like pulling teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Very hard, nearly impossible.
20. No bed of roses
Meaning: Not easy or pleasant.
In a Sentence: Marriage is wonderful, but it’s no bed of roses.
Other Ways to Say: Not a walk in the park, not perfect.
21. No walk in the park
Meaning: Not easy or effortless.
In a Sentence: Raising kids is no walk in the park.
Other Ways to Say: Not simple, hard work.
22. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or dangerous situation.
In a Sentence: He’s on thin ice after showing up late again.
Other Ways to Say: Walking a fine line, in trouble.
23. Put through the wringer
Meaning: Experience harsh treatment or hardship.
In a Sentence: She was put through the wringer during the trial.
Other Ways to Say: Suffer badly, go through a lot.
24. Rock the boat
Meaning: Cause trouble or disturbance in a stable situation.
In a Sentence: Don’t rock the boat by bringing up that issue now.
Other Ways to Say: Stir up trouble, cause disruption.
25. Roll with the punches
Meaning: Adapt to difficulties and keep going.
In a Sentence: Life’s been hard, but I’ve learned to roll with the punches.
Other Ways to Say: Adapt, stay strong.
26. Put Through the Wringer
Meaning: To experience a very difficult or unpleasant situation.
In a Sentence: After the intense job interview, I felt like I was put through the wringer.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally drained, tested to the limit.
27. Bite the Bullet
Meaning: To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is unavoidable.
In a Sentence: I had to bite the bullet and tell her the bad news.
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, tough it out.
28. A Tall Order
Meaning: Something that is difficult to accomplish.
In a Sentence: Finishing the project in one day is a tall order.
Other Ways to Say: Big challenge, tough task.
29. Throw in at the Deep End
Meaning: To be put into a difficult situation without preparation.
In a Sentence: On my first day, they threw me in at the deep end with no training.
Other Ways to Say: Sink or swim, sudden pressure.
30. Carry the World on Your Shoulders
Meaning: To feel responsible for many difficult problems.
In a Sentence: Since the accident, he’s been carrying the world on his shoulders.
Other Ways to Say: Bear a heavy burden, emotionally overwhelmed.
31. Go Through Hell and Back
Meaning: To experience extreme suffering or hardship.
In a Sentence: She went through hell and back during the custody battle.
Other Ways to Say: Face extreme challenges, survive hardship.
32. Uphill Battle
Meaning: A struggle that is difficult to win.
In a Sentence: Changing his opinion is going to be an uphill battle.
Other Ways to Say: Tough fight, hard road.
33. Jump Through Hoops
Meaning: To go through a lot of difficulty to achieve something.
In a Sentence: I had to jump through hoops to get the visa approved.
Other Ways to Say: Overcome obstacles, work extra hard.
34. Not a Walk in the Park
Meaning: Not easy to do.
In a Sentence: Balancing work and parenting is not a walk in the park.
Other Ways to Say: Challenging, demanding.
35. A Hard Nut to Crack
Meaning: A difficult person or problem.
In a Sentence: The mystery of the missing file is a hard nut to crack.
Other Ways to Say: Tough case, difficult to solve.
36. Grin and Bear It
Meaning: To endure something unpleasant without complaining.
In a Sentence: I don’t like this job, but I’ll just grin and bear it until I find another.
Other Ways to Say: Put up with it, tolerate silently.
37. Hit a Wall
Meaning: To suddenly stop making progress due to a difficult obstacle.
In a Sentence: I was writing smoothly until I hit a wall with the conclusion.
Other Ways to Say: Face a block, reach a standstill.
38. Tough Row to Hoe
Meaning: A difficult task or responsibility.
In a Sentence: Being a single parent is a tough row to hoe.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult path, hard duty.
39. No Bed of Roses
Meaning: Not an easy or comfortable situation.
In a Sentence: Running a business is no bed of roses.
Other Ways to Say: Not smooth sailing, hard work.
40. Go the Extra Mile
Meaning: To make an extra effort even when it’s difficult.
In a Sentence: She always goes the extra mile to help her students succeed.
Other Ways to Say: Do more than expected, exceed effort.
41. Break One’s Back
Meaning: To work very hard to accomplish something difficult.
In a Sentence: He broke his back trying to finish the house renovation on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work tirelessly, put in hard labor.
42. Walk a Tightrope
Meaning: To deal with a difficult situation where balance is crucial.
In a Sentence: He’s walking a tightrope between his job and family life.
Other Ways to Say: Tread carefully, difficult balance.
43. Hit the Skids
Meaning: To experience a period of failure or trouble.
In a Sentence: After the divorce, his life really hit the skids.
Other Ways to Say: Fall on hard times, face setbacks.
44. Face the Music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of one’s actions.
In a Sentence: He had to face the music after missing all his deadlines.
Other Ways to Say: Take responsibility, deal with consequences.
45. Bend Over Backwards
Meaning: To try very hard to help or please someone.
In a Sentence: She bent over backwards to meet the client’s unrealistic demands.
Other Ways to Say: Go above and beyond, make extra effort.
46. A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Meaning: An unpleasant fact or situation that must be accepted.
In a Sentence: Losing the contract was a bitter pill to swallow.
Other Ways to Say: Harsh reality, difficult truth.
47. Push Comes to Shove
Meaning: When things become very difficult.
In a Sentence: If push comes to shove, we’ll have to sell the car.
Other Ways to Say: In desperate times, when it gets serious.
48. No Picnic
Meaning: Not easy or enjoyable.
In a Sentence: Studying medicine is no picnic.
Other Ways to Say: Hard work, not fun.
49. Through Thick and Thin
Meaning: In both good and difficult times.
In a Sentence: They’ve stayed together through thick and thin.
Other Ways to Say: No matter what, through highs and lows.
50. Against All Odds
Meaning: Despite difficulties or improbabilities.
In a Sentence: He won the race against all odds.
Other Ways to Say: Unexpectedly successful, against challenges.
