no picnic

1. Difficult, no fun, as in Recovering from abdominal surgery is no picnic. This expression, alluding to a picnic as a pleasant occasion, was first recorded in 1888.

Example Sentences

Enough about the savory options, because no picnic is complete without its sweet fixings — and no summer picnic is complete without a cold treat to help battle the heat.

From Salon

Invading south Lebanon, however well reasoned or cleverly planned, is no picnic.

From Slate

And no picnic is complete without the quintessential summertime food: lobster rolls.

From Salon

Much of Michelle Obama’s speech was managing expectations about how, even if Democrats feel euphoric now, the next couple of months will be no picnic.

From Slate

“The Warren court was no picnic for the justices. … They were unpopular basically from start to finish from ’53 to ’69,” Kavanaugh said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• backbreaking 
• burdensome 
• exhausting 
• formidable 
• grueling 
• laborious 
• onerous 
• painful 
• rigorous 
• strenuous 
• tiring www.thesaurus.com
• tough 
• troublesome 
• trying 
• uphill