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Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful and exciting. In this lesson, you will learn fifty handy expressions related to facing hardships, working hard through difficulties, and overcoming obstacles.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean fighting an uphill battle, walking through a rough patch, or treading water. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Struggle
1. Uphill battle
Definition: A struggle or task that is extremely difficult, exhausting, and requires constant effort to achieve.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to finish his complex science report in one night felt like an uphill battle. / Rebuilding the old bicycle after it rusted was an uphill battle.
Similar Expressions: Hard struggle / Difficult challenge
2. Rough patch
Definition: A temporary period of hardship, stress, or difficulty in life.
Used in a Sentence: The family business went through a rough patch during the winter months. / Even the best students hit a rough patch with difficult math units.
Similar Expressions: Hard time / Difficult phase
3. Treading water
Definition: Struggling just to stay in the same place without making any real progress or falling further behind.
Used in a Sentence: With so many chores piling up, he felt like he was just treading water all afternoon. / Working two part-time jobs left her feeling like she was treading water.
Similar Expressions: Barely surviving / Maintaining status quo
4. Biting off more than you can chew
Definition: Taking on too many tasks, responsibilities, or struggles than you can possibly handle.
Used in a Sentence: Signing up for four clubs at once meant he had bitten off more than he could chew. / Don’t bite off more than you can chew by accepting extra shifts.
Similar Expressions: Overextending / Taking on too much
5. Between a rock and a hard place
Definition: Being stuck in a difficult situation where every choice involves an unpleasant struggle.
Used in a Sentence: Choosing between finishing his homework early or playing in the game put him between a rock and a hard place. / The budget cut left the committee between a rock and a hard place.
Similar Expressions: Dilemma / Tough spot
6. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
Definition: To achieve success or overcome a struggle entirely through your own hard work and effort.
Used in a Sentence: Without any outside help, she had to pull herself up by her bootstraps to learn coding. / He overcame his early setbacks by pulling himself up by his bootstraps.
Similar Expressions: Work hard independently / Self-made success
7. Weather the storm
Definition: To survive and endure a difficult period of crisis, hardship, or struggle safely.
Used in a Sentence: Good financial planning helped the small family-run store weather the storm of economic trouble. / Sticking together helped the team weather the storm of losses.
Similar Expressions: Endure hardship / Survive crisis
8. Hard knocks
Definition: Tough, painful life lessons learned through difficult experiences and personal struggles.
Used in a Sentence: He learned about business management through the school of hard knocks rather than textbooks. / Experiencing failures gave her wisdom through hard knocks.
Similar Expressions: Life lessons / Practical adversity
9. Up against the wall
Definition: Facing a desperate situation with few options left and immense pressure.
Used in a Sentence: With the project deadline only an hour away, the team felt up against the wall. / Financial debts left him feeling up against the wall.
Similar Expressions: Desperate situation / Cornered
10. Fight an uphill battle
Definition: To engage in a persistent struggle against heavy odds or disadvantages.
Used in a Sentence: Convincing everyone to change the schedule was like fighting an uphill battle. / The underdog team fought an uphill battle all season.
Similar Expressions: Struggle against odds / Hard fight
11. Swim against the current
Definition: To struggle by doing something differently or opposing popular trends and expectations.
Used in a Sentence: Choosing to study art instead of traditional business felt like swimming against the current. / Sticking to his independent ideas meant swimming against the current.
Similar Expressions: Go against the grain / Resist pressure
12. Run the gauntlet
Definition: To go through a severe, exhausting series of trials, criticisms, or struggles.
Used in a Sentence: Every new product had to run the gauntlet of safety inspections and consumer reviews. / The freshman had to run the gauntlet of club interviews.
Similar Expressions: Face intense trials / Brave criticism
13. Trial by fire
Definition: A severe, sudden test or difficult struggle that forces you to learn quickly under pressure.
Used in a Sentence: Taking charge of the presentation on his very first day at work was a true trial by fire. / Her first baking competition was a trial by fire.
Similar Expressions: Severe test / Hard introduction
14. Keep your head above water
Definition: Struggling just enough to avoid financial ruin, failure, or complete exhaustion.
Used in a Sentence: With so many bills arriving at once, the family worked hard just to keep their heads above water. / He studied late every night to keep his head above water in calculus.
Similar Expressions: Barely cope / Survive stress
15. Push the boulder up the hill
Definition: Engaging in endless, exhausting labor that requires constant effort with little reward.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to keep the messy playroom clean felt like pushing a boulder up a hill. / Fixing the glitching software felt like pushing a boulder up a hill.
Similar Expressions: Endless toil / Sisyphean task
16. Carry the cross
Definition: To bear a heavy burden, personal struggle, or responsibility through difficult times.
Used in a Sentence: Since he made the error, he had to carry the cross and fix the records alone. / She carried the cross of organizing the charity event almost single-handedly.
Similar Expressions: Bear a burden / Take responsibility
17. Bearing the brunt
Definition: Taking the heaviest impact, stress, or punishment of a difficult situation or struggle.
Used in a Sentence: The front windows of the cabin bore the brunt of the heavy winter storm. / Junior employees often bore the brunt of the tight deadline stress.
Similar Expressions: Take the impact / Endure most
18. Bite the bullet
Definition: To force yourself to face a painful, difficult struggle or unpleasant task with courage.
Used in a Sentence: He had to bite the bullet and tell his teacher he lost the library book. / She decided to bite the bullet and apologize for her harsh words.
Similar Expressions: Tough it out / Face reality
19. Ride out the storm
Definition: To remain strong, patient, and resilient while waiting for a difficult period of struggle to pass.
Used in a Sentence: The small boat dropped anchor in the cove to ride out the fierce hurricane. / Staying calm helped the company ride out the financial trouble.
Similar Expressions: Endure hardship / Weather crisis
20. Grin and bear it
Definition: To endure an unpleasant struggle or difficult situation without complaining.
Used in a Sentenceology: The power outage meant they had no lights, so they just had to grin and bear it. / When the game was canceled, he grinned and beared it instead of whining.
Similar Expressions: Endure silently / Accept adversity
21. Suffer in silence
Definition: To experience emotional or physical struggle without telling others or complaining.
Used in a Sentenceology: Instead of asking for help with his homework, he tried to suffer in silence until he fell behind. / Don’t suffer in silence when you can share your worries.
Similar Expressions: Hide pain / Endure alone
22. Knocked down, get back up
Definition: A resilient attitude of recovering from repeated failures, struggles, and setbacks.
Used in a Sentenceology: Life is about getting knocked down seven times and getting back up eight. / Even after losing the race, she knew how to get back up.
Similar Expressions: Bounce back / Persevere
23. Stumble and fall
Definition: Experiencing setbacks, mistakes, and struggles while learning a new skill.
Used in a Sentenceology: Everyone will stumble and fall when learning to ride a bicycle for the first time. / Don’t fear making mistakes; it’s normal to stumble and fall.
Similar Expressions: Make mistakes / Face setbacks
24. Hard row to hoe
Definition: A difficult, labor-intensive task or life struggle that requires immense effort.
Used in a Sentenceology: Raising four energetic puppies at the same time proved to be a hard row to hoe. / Learning a new musical instrument without a teacher is a hard row to hoe.
Similar Expressions: Tough task / Difficult journey
25. Face the music
Definition: To accept the unpleasant consequences of a mistake or struggle directly.
Used in a Sentenceology: He knew he had to face the music after tracking mud across the clean kitchen floor. / She went to the principal’s office to face the music.
Similar Expressions: Accept consequences / Take responsibility
26. Walk through fire
Definition: To endure extreme danger, hardship, or struggle for someone or something you care about.
Used in a Sentenceology: The loyal friends were willing to walk through fire to help each other succeed. / She walked through fire to finish her college degree.
Similar Expressions: Extreme endurance / Brave hardship
27. Sweat blood
Definition: To work with extreme physical or mental effort through a very difficult struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: He had to sweat blood over his coding assignment to get it working by midnight. / Winning the championship meant sweating blood during daily training.
Similar Expressions: Work extremely hard / Toil intensely
28. Burn the midnight oil
Definition: Working late into the night, struggling through exhaustion to complete a task.
Used in a Sentenceology: She spent the entire week burning the midnight oil to finish her project report. / Deadline week meant burning the midnight oil at her desk.
Similar Expressions: Work late / Toil through night
29. Grind away
Definition: To work steadily and persistently through a dull, repetitive, or difficult struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: He spent hours grinding away at math equations until he understood every formula. / Success comes to those who keep grinding away at their goals.
Similar Expressions: Work tirelessly / Persevere
30. Nose to the grindstone
Definition: Working hard, focusing entirely on a task, and pushing through a difficult struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: With exams coming up next week, she kept her nose to the grindstone all weekend. / Putting your nose to the grindstone helps finish projects fast.
Similar Expressions: Work hard / Focus intensely
31. Put your shoulder to the wheel
Definition: To commit to working hard and pushing through a collective struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: If everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel, we can clean up the park in an hour. / Team projects require everyone to put their shoulder to the wheel.
Similar Expressions: Work together / Push hard
32. Shoulder the burden
Definition: To take full responsibility for a heavy duty, worry, or struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: As team captain, he had to shoulder the burden of the loss. / She was willing to shoulder the burden of organizing the fundraiser.
Similar Expressions: Bear responsibility / Take weight
33. Pull your weight
Definition: To do your fair share of work so others don’t have to carry the whole struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: Every member of the crew had to pull their weight during the stormy voyage. / If we all pull our weight, the project will finish early.
Similar Expressions: Do your share / Contribute
34. Catch a break
Definition: Finally experiencing a lucky moment of relief after a long period of struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: After months of searching for his lost dog, he finally caught a break when a neighbor spotted it. / The exhausted student caught a break when the quiz was postponed.
Similar Expressions: Lucky turn / Relief
35. Turn the corner
Definition: To pass the hardest part of a struggle or illness and begin improving.
Used in a Sentenceology: After struggling with a bad cold for days, he finally turned the corner and felt energetic. / The struggling business turned the corner after launching a new product.
Similar Expressions: Recover / Pass worst phase
36. Light at the end of the tunnel
Definition: A sign of hope or approaching relief after a long, difficult struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: Finishing the final essay meant she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. / Working late on taxes was hard, but seeing the light at the end kept him going.
Similar Expressions: Hope ahead / Relief approaching
37. Out of the woods
Definition: Past the point of danger, difficulty, or intense struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: The patient was recovering well and finally out of the woods. / After fixing the main computer glitch, the tech team felt they were out of the woods.
Similar Expressions: Past danger / Safe now
38. Clear sailing
Definition: A peaceful, stress-free period ahead after overcoming initial struggles.
Used in a Sentenceology: Once they passed the tricky mountain pass, it was clear sailing all the way to town. / Completing the hardest exam meant clear sailing for the week.
Similar Expressions: Easy path / Smooth progress
39. Hit rock bottom
Definition: Reaching the absolute lowest, most difficult point in a struggle before things can improve.
Used in a Sentenceology: After losing his savings and job, he felt he had hit rock bottom, but things slowly got better. / Recognizing you hit rock bottom helps you rebuild.
Similar Expressions: Lowest point / Worst adversity
40. Back against the wall
Definition: Being in a corner with no easy escape from a difficult struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: With his opponent pressing hard in the chess match, his back was against the wall. / Financial pressures left the family with their backs against the wall.
Similar Expressions: Trapped / Desperate spot
41. At your wit’s end
Definition: Feeling completely frustrated, exhausted, and having no idea how to solve a struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: When the computer crashed for the third time, she was at her wit’s end. / Dealing with the noisy puppy left him at his wit’s end.
Similar Expressions: Out of ideas / Frustrated
42. Pushed to the limit
Definition: Having endured maximum stress, exhaustion, or struggle before breaking.
Used in a Sentenceology: Running four miles in the heat pushed the athletes to the limit. / The long exam prep pushed her patience to the limit.
Similar Expressions: Maxed out / Strained
43. Stretched thin
Definition: Having your time, money, or energy divided among too many struggles.
Used in a Sentenceology: Working three jobs left him feeling stretched thin across all his responsibilities. / The volunteer team was stretched thin during the festival.
Similar Expressions: Overworked / Exhausted resources
44. Worn to a shadow
Definition: Becoming extremely thin, tired, and exhausted from chronic worry or struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: Caring for the sick garden plants left her feeling worn to a shadow. / Long hours of studying left him worn to a shadow before finals.
Similar Expressions: Exhausted / Depleted
45. Bleed dry
Definition: To drain someone of all their money, energy, or resources through continuous struggle.
Used in a Sentenceology: Paying off the unexpected medical bills threatened to bleed their savings dry. / The constant project revisions seemed to bleed him dry of creativity.
Similar Expressions: Drain completely / Deplete resources
46. Walking through a minefield
Definition: Navigating a delicate, highly stressful struggle where one mistake causes disaster.
Used in a Sentenceology: Discussing the controversial budget cut felt like walking through a minefield. / Managing the competing personalities felt like walking through a minefield.
Similar Expressions: Risky situation / Delicate path
47. Slogging away
Definition: Working hard and making slow, painful progress through a difficult task.
Used in a Sentenceology: He spent the entire rainy afternoon slogging away at his history essay. / Slogging away at difficult math problems builds problem-solving skills.
Similar Expressions: Toil slowly / Persevere through labor
48. Fight tooth and nail
Definition: To struggle fiercely and with all your might against an opponent or obstacle.
Used in a Sentenceology: The puppies fought tooth and nail over the last chew toy. / She fought tooth and nail to keep her community garden open.
Similar Expressions: Fight fiercely / Battle hard
49. Weather the storm and emerge stronger
Definition: Surviving a severe struggle and coming out wiser and more resilient.
Used in a Sentenceology: After weathering the storm of job loss, she emerged stronger with a new career. / Tough challenges help you weather the storm and emerge stronger.
Similar Expressions: Grow through adversity / Overcome
50. See the light of day
Definition: Finally finishing a long, difficult struggle or project after months of darkness.
Used in a Sentenceology: After working on the manuscript for three years, his novel finally saw the light of day. / The old car in the garage finally saw the light of day after being restored.
Similar Expressions: Complete at last / Successfully finish
Exercise to Practice
- An uphill battle is an easy, effortless task that requires zero energy or struggle.
- A rough patch refers to a temporary period of hardship, stress, or difficulty in life.
- Treading water means struggling just to stay in the same place without making progress.
- Biting off more than you can chew means taking on fewer responsibilities than needed.
- Weathering the storm means surviving and enduring a difficult crisis safely.
- Hitting rock bottom means reaching the absolute lowest point in a struggle.
- Slogging away means working quickly and effortlessly with magical results in seconds.
- Fighting tooth and nail means struggling fiercely and with all your might against an obstacle.
- Being stretched thin means having your energy divided among too many struggles.
- Catching a break means experiencing a lucky moment of relief after a struggle.
- Turning the corner means passing the hardest part of a struggle and improving.
- Being at your wit’s end means feeling calm, peaceful, and completely relaxed.
- Sweating blood means working with extreme physical or mental effort through a struggle.
- Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps means succeeding through your own hard work.
- Suffering in silence means sharing your worries loudly with everyone around you.
Answer Key
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you understand common English expressions about facing hardships, working hard through difficulties, and overcoming obstacles. Using them in your daily writing and conversations makes your speech much more colorful and fun.
Try picking one or two new expressions to use when talking with friends or writing stories this week. Practice makes perfect, and soon using these phrases will feel completely natural!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for struggle?
Common expressions include uphill battle, rough patch, and treading water. People use these phrases to describe hard work, difficult phases, and overcoming obstacles.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms make our language more expressive, colorful, and engaging than plain literal words. They help us share complex ideas quickly using fun mental pictures.
What does uphill battle mean?
Uphill battle means a struggle or task that is extremely difficult, exhausting, and requires constant effort to achieve. Just like walking or running up a steep hill requires extra muscle power, achieving a goal against heavy odds takes relentless work.
How can I remember these idioms easily?
You can remember them best by making up fun sentences or drawing pictures for each phrase. Using them in daily conversations also helps lock them into your memory.
Are these expressions used in everyday conversation?
Yes, native speakers often use these idioms in books, movies, workplaces, and regular chats. Knowing them helps you understand everyday English much better.
