Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: Difficult

Yee yee! We've found 193 phrases and idioms matching Difficult.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
a bed of nailsa problematic, difficult, or uncomfortable situation or circumstance; anything painful, challenging, or unpleasantRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
a hot potatovery difficultRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepeven the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting pointRate it:

(4.60 / 5 votes)
a needle in a haystackIt means when something is extremely difficult (or impossible) to find.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
a smoke screenEarly sea battles demonstrated the value of gun smoke and smoke from burning ships to hide one battleship from one belonging to the enemy. Later, smoke was generated prior to commencing battle so as to make it more difficult for gun crews to spot the targeted vessel. This tactic became known as a smoke screen.Rate it:

(4.17 / 6 votes)
absolutely taxingdifficult or needing a lot of thought or effortRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
acquired tasteSomething that is appreciated only after having initially been regarded as unappealing or unpleasant; a person who is regarded as difficult or dislikable but of whom at least some have grown to approve.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
act of CongressAuthorization that is extremely difficult to get, especially in a timely fashion.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all one's life's worthA momentous matter; a very serious risk; a difficult task or situation.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
around the hornA difficult or precarious route that is less advisable than a simpler alternative; also, in baseball, throwing the ball from third base to second to firstRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
back to the wall(Can we clean up this sense?) A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
beat around the bushTo delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
Behind the Eight BallGetting into trouble or difficult situation due to bad luck, a situation through which, one might not get out easilyRate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
behind the eight-ballIn a difficult situation or tight spot.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
believe it or notAn expression made famous by Ripley in his news column featuring difficult to believe facts, events, situations, people, truisms.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceTo face a difficult situation and remain in a tight spot one after another, Or face some difficulty in making the right decision that would deliver no harmRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
big dealSomething very important, difficult, or of concern.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the BushIt is better to remain satisfied with what you have earned or you have got, rather than craving for what is out of reach or difficult to get hold ofRate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
bite the bulletto force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situationRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bite the bulletto force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult, or to be brave in a difficult situationRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bitter endThe end of a long and difficult process.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
blow overAn expression relative to; tense/ difficult/challenging/oppressive, threatening/dangerous situation:Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
boom or bust!In A Difficult Challenging Situation, Decide To Go For Broke, Go For Success Or Failure!Rate it:

(2.75 / 4 votes)
bring offTo succeed in doing something considered to be very difficult.Rate it:

(5.00 / 9 votes)
can of wormsA troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
cart awayTo remove someone difficult or troublesome.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
cast in concretesolidly established, very difficult to alterRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Catch-22A difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
ce n'est pas la mer à boireIt is not an impossibility; It is not so very difficult after all.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
clear as mudUnclear, difficult or impossible to understand or interpret.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
coffin cornerThis is an aerodynamics term which refers to a narrow and critical altitude range where an aircraft’s stall speed approaches its maximum speed, which can lead to catastrophic instability. This phrase is also used in American football to refer to the section of playing field, near the endzone, between the goal line and the 5 yard line in which punters attempt to pin the opposing team within, by executing a ‘coffin corner’ kick. This manuever is highly difficult and requires immense precision.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
cool as a cucumberCalm and composed even in difficult or frustrating situations; self-possessed.Rate it:

(4.75 / 4 votes)
Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your FaceTo make a difficult situation more complicated due to an angry actionRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
daily grindThe difficult, routine, or monotonous tasks of daily work.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
Daniel come to judgementOne who wisely settles a difficult matter.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
deep waterA difficult or embarrassing situation.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
dispose ofTo deal with conclusively with a threat or a difficult situation.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
do the hard yardsTo perform a difficult task or tasks.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
doctors make the worst patientsIt's often difficult to advise people on subjects that they are usually experts on.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
easier said than doneEasy to propose, but difficult to accomplish.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
easy for you to sayRequiring little effort or sacrifice on your part, with the implication that it is or has been more difficult for others.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
elephant in the roomA problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
escape fireAn unconventional or counter intuitive solution to a difficult problem.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
fan the flamesTo intensify something; to worsen an already difficult situation or unfavourable set of circumstances.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
fight a losing battleTo try to do something so difficult that it will probably end in failure.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
fight tooth and nailTo use every means possible to overcome a difficult opposition.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
fine lineA difference, albeit vague and difficult to discern.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
fit the moldPossession of a variety of necessary and appropriate attributes and aptitudes can reveal an individual as fitting the mold for a specific difficult challenge.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
game faceThe expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
getA difficult return or block of a shot.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for Difficult:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
Take a page out of her __________.
A newspaper
B magazine
C journal
D book