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Difficulty - Hard Tasks

Discover how English idioms like "easier said than done" and "bite the bullet" relate to hard tasks in English.

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English idioms related to Difficulty
at a push
at a push
[phrase]

with difficulty or extra effort

Ex: We can finish the report by Friday at a push. 
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to [bite] the bullet

to start to deal with an inevitable challenge or difficulty

Ex: I finally bit the bullet and booked the surgery. 
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a bitter pill to (swallow|take)

something so unpleasant that a person has to struggle to accept it

Ex: Losing the contract after months of work was a bitter pill to swallow. 
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easier said than done

not difficult in words compared to how difficult it can be in practice

Ex: Just exercise every morning? That's easier said than done when you work nights. 
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(fine|pretty) kettle of fish

a situation that is complicated, awkward, or annoying

Ex: Now the supplier has cancelled and the guests arrive tomorrow; that's a fine kettle of fish. 
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(hard|tough) nut (to crack|)

someone or something that is difficult to understand, deal with, or overcome

Ex: The new manager is polite, but he is a hard nut to crack. 
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to [have] {one's} work cut out for {sb}

used to say that something is very difficult and one will need to put a lot of effort into doing it

Ex: The new coach has his work cut out for him if he wants to rebuild the team. 
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here goes nothing

used to express a sense of uncertainty or nervousness before attempting something

Ex: Here goes nothing, she said, before pressing the send button. 
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[get] blood (from|out of) a (stone|turnip)

to try to do something that is very unlikely to accomplish

Ex: Asking Dan to lend you money is like trying to get blood from a stone. 
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to [take] some beating

to be very successful that demands a lot of hard work in order to be outdone or surpassed

Ex: Their new album will take some beating. 
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tall order

a very difficult or unreasonable request

Ex: Finishing all this by tomorrow is a tall order. 
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to [be] no picnic

used to emphasize that doing something is not easy at all

Ex: Raising three kids on your own is no picnic. 
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