rough patches
Bumps along way
Rough patches are difficult periods or stretches of trouble within something generally functional.
A marriage goes through rough patches.
A business hits a rough patch before recovering.
The phrase implies temporary hardship rather than fundamental failure: Every relationship has its rough patches.
The singular rough patch works the same way.
- difficultiesProblems to overcome
- obstaclesThings in the way
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- challengesDifficulties requiring effort
- strugglesDifficult prolonged efforts
tough times · problems · hardship · dark days · hurdles · setbacks · rocky road · bumpy ride · learning curves · growing pains · resilience · ups and downs · calluses · troubles · turbulence · stormy weather · perseverance · trials
- irregularitiesbumps, dents, ridges, grooves, ripples
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- skin irritationredness, chafing, stinging, irritation, rash
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- shaving problemsrazor burn, nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, razor bumps
rough patchesgood times
Enjoyable life periods
halcyon days · glory days · golden age · heyday · high points
rough patchessmooth surfaces
rough patchessmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
clear skies · calm waters · fair weather · open road · easy street
rough, patch, roughly, roughness, ruffian, roughest, rougher, roughen, roughened