tough sledding

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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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QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

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Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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Words nearby tough sledding

tough-minded, toughness, tough nut, tough pitch, tough row to hoe, tough sledding, toujours perdrix, Toul, Toulon, Toulouse, Toulouse-Lautrec

Example sentences from the Web for tough sledding

His flesh is sagging a bit, but he is still trim and looks lean, sinewy and tough.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“You ask me my motivation,” Marvin says, moving back into his tough guy persona again.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although tough environmental controls were put in place in 2000, enforcement has been haphazard.
Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana!|Clive Irving|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was also an occasion for voluptuary displays of tough-mindedness.
The Media's Pro-Torture Cheerleaders|Jedediah Purdy|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this paper was a very tough, fibrous substance, and would resist quite a heavy blow as well as keep out the cold.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
"Tough—but most of us have been there, one time or another," Goodell observed sympathetically; and with that the subject rested.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
You know that I come of tough fiber—of that old Creole race of Pontelliers that dry up and finally blow away.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Another tough-looking man ran out of the building and jumped into the red car.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
But it was tough on Clip to run into a relative and find him passing smoke-signals along for that prince of rascals, Dangerfield.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews

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