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a tough row to hoe
01
a situation that causes difficulties for one
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "a tough row to hoe" and when to use it?
The idiom "a tough row to hoe" originated from the agricultural practice of hoeing rows in a field to prepare the soil for planting. This expression is used to suggest that the task at hand requires considerable effort, endurance, and perseverance, just as tilling a row of soil can be physically demanding and labor-intensive.
Examples
Taking over the team after three managers quit was a tough row to hoe.
