33 Idioms for Difficult

Life is full of challenges, and when faced with difficulties, idioms provide colorful and memorable ways to express the struggle. From tasks that are as tough as “nailing jelly to a wall” to those that are as challenging as “climbing a mountain,” idiomatic expressions help us communicate the effort, obstacles, and frustrations that come with difficult situations.

In this article, you’ll discover 33 idioms for difficult, each illustrating a different aspect of challenging or tough situations. These idioms will help you express the intensity of the moment, the perseverance needed, and the struggles we often face in life.

1. A Tough Nut to Crack

Meaning: Something or someone that is difficult to understand or deal with.
In a Sentence:

He’s a tough nut to crack, always keeping his thoughts to himself.
The problem is a tough nut to crack, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually.
Other Ways to Say: Hard to understand, difficult to deal with, challenging problem

2. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Meaning: To take on more responsibility or tasks than you are able to handle.
In a Sentence:

She bit off more than she could chew when she agreed to handle both the project and the presentation.
He realized he’d bitten off more than he could chew when the deadlines piled up.
Other Ways to Say: Overcommit, take on too much, exceed your limits

3. A Long Haul

Meaning: Something that takes a long time or requires great effort to complete.
In a Sentence:

It’s going to be a long haul, but I’m confident we can get this project done on time.
Getting through school is a long haul, but the hard work will pay off.
Other Ways to Say: Long-term effort, sustained effort, long journey

4. Climbing a Mountain

Meaning: A difficult or challenging task that requires a lot of effort.
In a Sentence:

Finishing this project on time feels like climbing a mountain, but we’ll make it.
He thought the exam was climbing a mountain, but once he started, it wasn’t as bad as he feared.
Other Ways to Say: Challenging, tough task, uphill battle

5. Like Nailing Jelly to a Wall

Meaning: An impossible or very difficult task.
In a Sentence:

Trying to get him to focus is like nailing jelly to a wall.
It feels like nailing jelly to a wall trying to get everyone to agree on this decision.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible task, extremely difficult, like herding cats

6. A Bridge Too Far

Meaning: An action or task that is too difficult or impossible to achieve.
In a Sentence:

His plan to complete everything in one day was a bridge too far, and he had to adjust his expectations.
Trying to please everyone is a bridge too far; you can’t make everyone happy.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible task, too much to handle, unrealistic goal

7. Catch-22

Meaning: A problematic situation where you cannot solve one issue without creating another, often with no clear solution.
In a Sentence:

He was in a catch-22—he couldn’t get the job without experience, but he couldn’t get experience without a job.
The health care system’s bureaucracy is a catch-22; it’s nearly impossible to get what you need without going through endless paperwork.
Other Ways to Say: Paradox, dilemma, no-win situation

8. A Hard Pill to Swallow

Meaning: An unpleasant truth or fact that is difficult to accept.
In a Sentence:

Losing the championship was a hard pill to swallow for the team, especially after such a strong season.
Accepting that they wouldn’t be able to attend the concert was a hard pill to swallow for her.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult to accept, tough reality, hard to digest

9. Bite the Bullet

Meaning: To endure a painful or unpleasant situation that is inevitable or unavoidable.
In a Sentence:

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and face the difficult conversation.
He had to bite the bullet and admit that he needed help with the project.
Other Ways to Say: Tough it out, endure, face up to it

10. Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Meaning: To be faced with two equally difficult or undesirable choices.
In a Sentence:

She was caught between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between a job offer and staying close to her family.
The company is stuck between a rock and a hard place, needing to cut costs but also keep morale high.
Other Ways to Say: No-win situation, difficult decision, tough choice

11. Throw a Spanner in the Works

Meaning: To cause a problem or disruption that prevents something from progressing as planned.
In a Sentence:

The unexpected storm threw a spanner in the works of our outdoor event.
His last-minute decision really threw a spanner in the works, delaying the entire project.
Other Ways to Say: Disrupt, cause a setback, derail plans

LEARN ANOTHER 29 Idioms for Shock

12. Burning the Midnight Oil

Meaning: To work late into the night, usually on something important or difficult.
In a Sentence:

She’s been burning the midnight oil to finish her dissertation before the deadline.
They had to burn the midnight oil to get the presentation ready for the meeting the next morning.
Other Ways to Say: Stay up late, work tirelessly, long hours

13. Take the Bull by the Horns

Meaning: To confront and deal with a difficult situation directly and with determination.
In a Sentence:

Instead of avoiding the issue, he decided to take the bull by the horns and resolve it immediately.
It’s time to take the bull by the horns and address the problem head-on.
Other Ways to Say: Face the challenge, take control, tackle directly

14. Up a Creek Without a Paddle

Meaning: To be in a difficult situation with no easy solution or way out.
In a Sentence:

After losing the key to the office, I found myself up a creek without a paddle.
She realized she was up a creek without a paddle when her flight was canceled and all the hotels were booked.
Other Ways to Say: In trouble, stuck, in a bind

15. Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To give up or admit defeat, especially after trying hard for a long time.
In a Sentence:

After several failed attempts, he decided to throw in the towel and call for help.
She was ready to throw in the towel after the project hit too many roadblocks.
Other Ways to Say: Give up, surrender, quit

16. Tough as Nails

Meaning: To be very strong, tough, and resilient, both physically and mentally.
In a Sentence:

She’s tough as nails and can handle any challenge that comes her way.
Despite the difficulties, he remained tough as nails, pushing through without giving up.
Other Ways to Say: Resilient, strong-willed, tough-minded

17. A Hard Road to Travel

Meaning: A difficult or challenging journey or process.
In a Sentence:

Starting a new business can be a hard road to travel, filled with challenges and obstacles.
They knew it was going to be a hard road to travel, but they were determined to succeed.
Other Ways to Say: Tough journey, challenging path, difficult journey

18. Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To give up or quit, especially after realizing that success is not possible.
In a Sentence:

After many failed attempts, they finally decided to throw in the towel and stop trying.
He refused to throw in the towel, even when the situation seemed impossible.
Other Ways to Say: Surrender, give up, admit defeat

19. A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Meaning: Something unpleasant or difficult to accept.
In a Sentence:

Losing the championship was a bitter pill to swallow, but they took it in stride.
The news of the company’s bankruptcy was a bitter pill to swallow for all the employees.
Other Ways to Say: Hard to accept, tough reality, painful truth

20. Climb the Ladder

Meaning: To achieve success or progress, often in a career or organization, through effort and perseverance.
In a Sentence:

He’s been working hard to climb the ladder in the corporate world, aiming for the top position.
She’s steadily climbing the ladder in her career, one promotion at a time.
Other Ways to Say: Progress, rise to the top, advance in career

21. Back to Square One

Meaning: To return to the starting point or beginning of a process, often due to failure or complications.
In a Sentence:

After the presentation fell through, it felt like we were back to square one.
We had to go back to square one when the project’s timeline changed unexpectedly.
Other Ways to Say: Start over, begin again, restart from scratch

22. Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Meaning: To work excessively hard, often at the expense of rest and personal time.
In a Sentence:

He’s been burning the candle at both ends lately, working late and getting up early.
If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’ll burn out quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Overworking, exhausting oneself, working non-stop

23. Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Meaning: To be in a difficult situation where both options are undesirable or challenging.
In a Sentence:

She was caught between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between two equally difficult decisions.
Being offered two conflicting choices left him caught between a rock and a hard place.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in a dilemma, in a tight spot, facing a difficult choice

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24. On the Brink of Collapse

Meaning: To be on the verge of failing or experiencing a breakdown, especially due to exhaustion or stress.
In a Sentence:

After weeks of non-stop work, the project team was on the brink of collapse.
His mental health was on the brink of collapse from the constant pressure.
Other Ways to Say: On the verge of breaking down, about to fail, nearing a breakdown

25. A Mountain to Climb

Meaning: A difficult task or challenge that requires significant effort and perseverance to overcome.
In a Sentence:

Starting the new business felt like a mountain to climb, but they kept pushing forward.
It’s going to be a mountain to climb, but with the right resources, we can make it.
Other Ways to Say: Tough challenge, steep climb, major obstacle

26. A Bridge Too Far

Meaning: Something that is too difficult or impossible to achieve.
In a Sentence:

Trying to finish the project by Friday was a bridge too far, given the workload.
The plan seemed promising, but the additional requests were a bridge too far.
Other Ways to Say: Too ambitious, unrealistic goal, impossible to achieve

27. No Walk in the Park

Meaning: Something that is difficult, challenging, or requires significant effort to complete.
In a Sentence:

Preparing for the final exams was no walk in the park, especially with the limited time.
The marathon was no walk in the park, but she finished it strong.
Other Ways to Say: Not easy, challenging, hard to do

28. Throw Someone Under the Bus

Meaning: To betray or sacrifice someone to avoid trouble or gain an advantage.
In a Sentence:

He threw his colleague under the bus to save his own reputation.
Instead of owning up to the mistake, she threw him under the bus.
Other Ways to Say: Betray, sacrifice, set up for failure

29. In Over Your Head

Meaning: To be involved in something that is too difficult or complicated to handle.
In a Sentence:

He got in over his head when he agreed to take on the new project without any prior experience.
The situation was too complicated for her, and she quickly realized she was in over her head.
Other Ways to Say: Out of your depth, overwhelmed, struggling to cope

30. A Hard Nut to Crack

Meaning: Something or someone that is difficult to understand or solve.
In a Sentence:

The mystery behind the case turned out to be a hard nut to crack for the detectives.
The new employee is a hard nut to crack, as he’s always quiet and hard to read.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult to solve, tough challenge, hard to figure out

31. Hitting a Wall

Meaning: To reach an obstacle or limitation that prevents further progress.
In a Sentence:

After working on the project for hours, she felt like she was hitting a wall.
We’ve been trying to solve the issue, but it feels like we’re hitting a wall every time.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck, blocked, unable to progress

32. Fighting an Uphill Battle

Meaning: To engage in a difficult struggle where success is hard to achieve.
In a Sentence:

He was fighting an uphill battle trying to convince the board to approve the project.
Trying to change the company culture felt like fighting an uphill battle.
Other Ways to Say: Struggling, facing adversity, working hard against resistance

33. A Tough Road Ahead

Meaning: A difficult and challenging path to follow in the future.
In a Sentence:

After the layoffs, the company has a tough road ahead to rebuild and recover.
He knew there was a tough road ahead, but he was determined to keep going.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult journey, hard times ahead, tough future

Practice Exercise

She didn’t expect the project to be ___________, but now she realizes it will take a lot longer than expected.
When things got complicated, he felt like he was ___________, with no clear way out.
The exam was a ___________—I spent days preparing, and still, it was so challenging.
After working non-stop on the presentation, I’m afraid I’m ___________—I need to rest.
We were told it would be a ___________, but we’re still going strong despite the obstacles.
The deadline for the project was fast approaching, so we had to ___________ and get it done on time.
He felt like he was ___________ trying to make sense of all the new rules.
We’ve been working on this issue for months, and it feels like ___________.
It was ___________ when we realized we couldn’t change the decision.
She felt she had ___________ when she agreed to do too many tasks in one day.
They are facing ___________, trying to balance both work and family life during the busy season.
It’s been ___________ finishing this job, but we’re making progress.
He realized he had ___________ trying to fix all the broken systems on his own.
After so many failed attempts, it felt like ___________.
He decided to stop arguing and ___________, recognizing that there was no point in continuing.
She was ___________ trying to keep everything in order and never giving up.
The project is a real ___________ and will require all of our effort to complete.
We were trying to figure out how to fix the problem, but it felt like ___________.
The technical issue was a ___________ for the development team, causing multiple delays.
He’s ___________ working on the project, doing everything to make sure it’s perfect.
The new task feels like ___________ trying to accomplish, but he’s determined to finish.
We were ___________ trying to make a decision, but neither option seemed ideal.
She felt like she was ___________, unable to handle the complexity of the situation.
After hours of trying to solve the problem, I felt like ___________.
It was a true ___________ to get through the long hours of travel and meetings, but we did it.
Trying to get everything done before the deadline was ___________.
She realized she had ___________ taking on so many tasks at once.
The client kept changing the requirements, making it feel like ___________ trying to complete the project.
After months of trying, we reached a decision and knew we had a ___________ ahead to implement it.

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Answer Key

m) A Long Haul
e) Up a Creek Without a Paddle
g) Climbing a Mountain
k) Burning the Candle at Both Ends
n) A Hard Road to Travel
o) Take the Bull by the Horns
p) In Over Your Head
l) Back to Square One
i) A Hard Pill to Swallow
n) Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
m) A Long Haul
r) A Mountain to Climb
p) In Over Your Head
l) Back to Square One
z) Throw in the Towel
t) Tough as Nails
r) A Mountain to Climb
j) Like Nailing Jelly to a Wall
s) Throw a Spanner in the Works
t) Tough as Nails
r) A Mountain to Climb
c) Between a Rock and a Hard Place
p) In Over Your Head
z) Throw in the Towel
m) A Long Haul
g) Climbing a Mountain
n) Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
j) Like Nailing Jelly to a Wall
w) Take the Bull by the Horns

Conclusion

Difficult situations are a part of life, and these 33 idioms for difficult help us express the frustration, effort, and resilience required to face challenges. Whether we’re “climbing a mountain,” “fighting an uphill battle,” or “caught between a rock and a hard place,” idioms provide a creative and vivid way to describe the tough moments we encounter. In addition to these expressions for difficult situations, understanding the nuances of effort and diligence can be captured through phrases like “putting in the elbow grease.” These insights align seamlessly with the concepts behind 30 common idioms about hard work, which show how persistence and tenacity can lead to success despite adversity. Embracing these idioms not only enriches our vocabulary but also empowers us to better articulate our journeys through trials and tribulations. Moreover, incorporating strong idioms to enhance vocabulary allows us to communicate our experiences with greater nuance and power. By using these expressions, we can connect with others on a deeper level, sharing the emotional weight of our struggles and triumphs. Ultimately, the richness of language fosters empathy and understanding, turning our personal battles into shared stories of resilience.

From “biting off more than you can chew” to “throwing in the towel,” these idioms capture both the struggles and the strategies we use to navigate life’s difficulties. They remind us that even in the hardest times, perseverance, support, and the right attitude can help us get through.

Next time you find yourself facing a tough situation, remember that these idioms can offer a humorous or thoughtful way to articulate your challenges and perhaps even find comfort in knowing that others have been there too.