# tough going

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tough-going
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A difficult situation

## Examples

- Learning a new language is tough going at first.
- The hike became tough going when the rain started and the path turned into thick mud.
- Despite their best efforts to stabilize the economy, the transition period remained tough going for the struggling local businesses.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.