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rough it

Idioms

Do without the usual comforts and conveniences, as in We spent our vacation roughing it in a log cabin. This idiom was first recorded in 1768. Mark Twain used it as the title of an account of his experiences in Nevada (Roughing It, 1872).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For those campers willing to rough it a bit, it’s an A-plus choice.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

"I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating is until you see it," Trump said.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025

And then there’s the disheartening reality that tells you just how rough it is out there for arts organizations in this increasingly expensive city: Hugo House is still struggling.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2023

From the rough, it must be a three-shot hole.

From Washington Post • Jun. 17, 2022

No matter how rough it was, people seldom got mad, because everything was done for a laugh.

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023