rough it

Idioms  

1. 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).

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Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

While that includes people sleeping rough, it also includes people such as those who:

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2023

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

“It was rough, it was burned out, a shell of what it used to be 20 to 30 years prior,” said Adam Rinn, who grew up in the area and is Mr. Zigun’s designated successor.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2022

The wood was so rough it scraped my knuckles like sandpaper.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben