tough row to hoe
Arduous undertaking ahead
A tough row to hoe is a difficult task or situation requiring sustained effort.
The image comes from farming—hoeing a row of rocky or weedy soil is hard, tedious work.
Starting a business in this economy is a tough row to hoe.
Often mistakenly rendered as "tough road to hoe," which makes no sense.
- difficultRequiring much effort
- hardFirm or demanding
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- roughUneven in surface
- laboriousRequiring considerable effort
challenge · tall order · long haul · obstacle · uphill battle · steep climb · struggle · hard slog · grit · furrow · long row to hoe · perseverance · till · demanding · fortitude · grueling · tenacity · onerous
difficulty
tough row to hoecakewalk
Effortless task or promenade
piece of cake · walk in the park · easy as pie · a walk in the park · easy street
tough, tougher, toughest, toughly, toughness, toughen, toughened, toughening, rowed