How do you use "A tough row to hoe" in a sentence?

Being a single parent is a tough row to hoe, but she manages it beautifully. Starting a business during a recession is a tough row to hoe. That class has a tough row to hoe — the professor is notoriously demanding.

A tough row to hoe

Q: What does "A tough row to hoe" mean?

A difficult task or challenging situation to deal with. An agricultural metaphor describing a long, difficult effort ahead. Whether it's raising a family on one income, recovering from an illness, or fixing a troubled company, a tough row to hoe is a hardship that requires sustained effort. Often confused with 'tough road to hoe.'

American Slang Term American ★★★☆☆ Moderate informal

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Meaning: A difficult task or challenging situation to deal with.

艰巨的任务；需要面对的困难处境。

Una tarea difícil o una situación complicada con la que lidiar.

困難な課題や対処が難しい状況のこと。

힘든 과제나 해결하기 어려운 상황.

An agricultural metaphor describing a long, difficult effort ahead. Whether it's raising a family on one income, recovering from an illness, or fixing a troubled company, a tough row to hoe is a hardship that requires sustained effort. Often confused with 'tough road to hoe.'

一个来自农业的比喻，形容前方漫长而艰难的努力。无论是靠一份收入养家、从疾病中康复，还是整顿一家陷入困境的公司，a tough row to hoe就是一种需要持续努力才能克服的困难。常被误说为'tough road to hoe'。

Una metáfora agrícola que describe un esfuerzo largo y difícil por delante. Ya sea criar a una familia con un solo sueldo, recuperarse de una enfermedad o arreglar una empresa con problemas, «a tough row to hoe» es una adversidad que requiere un esfuerzo sostenido. A menudo se confunde con «tough road to hoe».

長く困難な努力が待ち受けていることを表す農業由来の比喩表現。一人で家族を養うこと、病気からの回復、問題を抱えた会社の立て直しなど、持続的な努力を要する困難な状況を指す。「tough road to hoe（道を耕す）」と混同されることが多いが、正しくは畑の畝（うね）を耕す比喩。

앞에 놓인 길고 힘든 노력을 묘사하는 농업 비유이다. 한 수입으로 가족을 부양하든, 병에서 회복하든, 문제 있는 회사를 살리든, a tough row to hoe는 지속적인 노력이 필요한 고난을 뜻한다. 'tough road to hoe'와 자주 혼동된다.

Examples

Being a single parent is a tough row to hoe, but she manages it beautifully.
做单亲妈妈是一条艰难的路，但她应付得很出色。
Ser madre soltera es un camino muy cuesta arriba, pero ella lo lleva de maravilla.
シングルマザーは大変な道のりだが、彼女は見事にやりこなしている。
한부모 가정을 꾸리는 것은 힘든 일이지만, 그녀는 훌륭하게 해내고 있어.
Starting a business during a recession is a tough row to hoe.
在经济衰退期创业是件非常艰难的事。
Montar un negocio en plena recesión es una empresa muy ardua.
不景気の中での起業は、非常に骨の折れる挑戦だ。
불경기에 사업을 시작하는 것은 정말 고된 도전이야.
That class has a tough row to hoe — the professor is notoriously demanding.
那门课不好过——那个教授出了名的严格。
Esa asignatura es muy dura — el profesor es famoso por ser muy exigente.
あの授業は大変だよ——教授が厳しいことで有名なんだ。
그 수업은 힘들어 — 교수님이 엄격하기로 유명하거든.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: challenges, empathy, description

Tone: sympathetic, acknowledging difficulty

✓ Do Say

That's a tough row to hoe.
那可不是一件容易的事。
Eso es un camino muy cuesta arriba.
それは大変な課題だね。
그건 정말 힘든 일이야.
We've got a tough row to hoe ahead of us.
我们前面还有一段艰难的路要走。
Nos espera un camino largo y difícil.
この先、厳しい道のりが待っているよ。
앞으로 힘든 길이 기다리고 있어.

✗ Don't Say

Don't say 'tough road to hoe' — it's a common error. The metaphor is about hoeing garden rows, not roads
不要说成'tough road to hoe'——这是常见的错误。这个比喻说的是用锄头锄地里的行垄，不是锄路
No digas «tough road to hoe» — es un error común. La metáfora se refiere a labrar surcos en el campo, no a carreteras.
「tough road to hoe」と言わないこと——よくある間違い。この比喩は道路ではなく、畑の畝を鍬で耕すことに由来する
'tough road to hoe'라고 말하지 말 것 — 흔한 실수이다. 이 비유는 길(road)을 호미질하는 것이 아니라 밭고랑(row)을 호미질하는 것이다

Origin & History

From American frontier farming, where hoeing a row of crops in rocky or root-filled soil was backbreaking work. The expression dates to the early 1800s and reflects America's agricultural roots. Note: it's 'row' (as in garden row), not 'road.'

Cultural Context

Era: 1800s-present

Generation: Boomers, Gen X

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Especially common in rural and Southern speech