tough sledding

Idioms  

1. Difficult work or progress, as in This bill faces tough sledding in the legislature. This idiom transfers the route on which a sled can travel to other kinds of progress toward a goal. It was first recorded as hard sledding in 1839. For the antonym, see easy sledding.

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Example Sentences

History suggests it will be tough sledding if tech keeps faltering.

From Barron's

On the track, though, it’s been tough sledding.

From Seattle Times

“I thought we got off to a really good start in our rhythm. After that it was tough sledding.”

From Seattle Times

After a promising start 20-18 start his first three years that included a pair of bowl appearances, it’s been tough sledding for Justin Wilcox who is 10-18 in the past three years.

From Seattle Times

The 89 yards on that drive accounted for almost a third of the Seahawks’ 279 yards on a day when the offense had a lot of tough sledding on a field that was wet with a persistent rain.

From Seattle Times