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.

---

Example Sentences

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

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

“From the second he started throwing,” Olson said, “you could tell that he had his good stuff. … When he has his ‘A’ stuff, it’s tough sledding for the other side.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 1, 2023

Condotta: It’s indeed been pretty tough sledding of late for Walker, who has 286 yards on 83 carries since Oct.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2022

The eight-episode “Five Days at Memorial,” premiering Friday, can indeed be tough sledding.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022

There Hall had had some tough sledding, met some Spanish Republicans who knew him from Madrid, won the aid of a group of young Cuban officials and written two angry and documented magazine pieces.

From The Five Arrows by Chase, Allan