# tough sledding

idiom

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

## Meaning

A situation in which it is difficult to proceed.

## Examples

- Learning this new language is tough sledding for me.
- The project faced tough sledding when the team lost their main source of funding halfway through the year.
- Despite his extensive preparation, the candidate found it tough sledding as the interviewers grilled him on the most technical aspects of his previous research.

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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.