rough sledding
Difficult going ahead
Rough sledding is difficulty or hard going, from the image of a sled struggling over uneven terrain rather than gliding smoothly: It's been rough sledding since the layoffs.
The phrase typically describes a prolonged period of challenge rather than a single obstacle.
Also appears as hard sledding or tough sledding.
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- tough goingDifficult progress ahead
- difficultyState of being hard
- demandingRequiring great effort
- rocky roadUneven or challenging trail
tough stretch · bumpy ride · struggle · adversity · stormy seas · hard time · tough nut to crack · swimming upstream · challenge · battle · hardship · troublesome · hurdle · steep climb · hassle · roadblock · setback · hard row to hoe
rough sleddingsmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
easy going · clear sailing · plain sailing · a breeze · a walk in the park
rough, sledding, roughly, roughness, roughen, rougher, roughest, roughs, roughed