a difficult feat to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a difficult feat to" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when wanting to emphasize the difficulty of the task ahead. For example, "Climbing Mount Everest is a difficult feat to accomplish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Eagles finally show the league what they were capable of For a team to be 4-1 as well as a disappointment is a difficult feat to achieve.

Independent

Much is therefore riding on the success of the iPhone 7, expected to be released in September, but slowing global smartphone sales could make that a difficult feat to pull off even for Apple.

The Guardian - Tech

Sweet Relief When a 41-year-old starter (Tim Wakefield) and a 42-year-old reliever (Mike Timlin) combine to throw the first over-40 shutout in the modern era, it would seem to be a difficult feat to top.

The New York Times

"We should gather, debate, inform our elected leaders that we have demands and concerns, and order them to address these problems in a serious fashion, and we have not done that," he said, noting that this is a difficult feat to achieve.

Harvard University

Stardom is a difficult feat to achieve, as is launching a new social network.

TechCrunch

Working as a team can be a difficult feat to achieve for any business, especially when it involves bringing together people who don't normally do so.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Afterward, when they did, pilots found it an extremely difficult feat to accomplish.

The New York Times

Since inaugural addresses are by tradition high-toned, bipartisan affairs, this was an immensely difficult feat to bring off with grace.

The Guardian

This is an incredibly difficult feat to pull off.

TechCrunch

He offers two examples of people who claim to be able to perform a difficult feat but not an easy, related task: a person who claims to be able to lift a heavy weight but not a feather and one who claims to be able to see the tip of an autumn hair but not a cartload of firewood.

SEP

As the woman passed by, he beckoned her over and sat her down next to him (a difficult feat, since she was wearing a backpack).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a difficult feat to" to concisely emphasize the significant effort or skill required to achieve something. It's most effective when the difficulty isn't immediately apparent.

Common error

Avoid using "a difficult feat to" when describing everyday tasks or easily achievable goals. Save it for situations where the challenge is genuinely substantial or noteworthy. Using it indiscriminately diminishes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a difficult feat to" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies an implied or stated noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It typically introduces a description of a task, achievement, or undertaking that presents significant challenges.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a difficult feat to" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to emphasize the challenging nature of a particular achievement or undertaking. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and provides real-world examples. The phrase is versatile, suitable for formal and informal contexts, though most often found in news media and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the described task is genuinely difficult to avoid diminishing its impact. Alternatives such as "a challenging task to" or "a demanding undertaking to" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging task to

Replaces "feat" with "task" and "difficult" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the activity.

a demanding undertaking to

Substitutes "feat" with "undertaking" and "difficult" with "demanding", highlighting the effort required.

a complex endeavor to

Replaces "feat" with "endeavor" and "difficult" with "complex", focusing on the intricate nature of the activity.

a formidable challenge to

Emphasizes the intimidating aspect of the challenge by using "formidable" instead of "difficult".

a Herculean effort to

Uses the adjective "Herculean" referencing Hercules to suggest extraordinary strength or effort is needed, instead of just "difficult."

a tall order to

Presents a more idiomatic alternative, implying a difficult or ambitious request or task.

no easy task to

Uses a negative construction to convey difficulty, focusing on the absence of ease.

an uphill battle to

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate a difficult and prolonged struggle.

a tough proposition to

Replaces "feat" with "proposition" and "difficult" with "tough", suggesting a demanding situation or challenge.

a hard thing to accomplish

Simplifies the language, using "hard" and "accomplish" to convey the difficulty of achieving something.

FAQs

How can I use "a difficult feat to" in a sentence?

Use "a difficult feat to" to describe an action or accomplishment that requires considerable skill, effort, or resources. For example: "Winning the championship after such a setback was "a difficult feat to" pull off."

What are some alternatives to "a difficult feat to"?

You can use phrases such as "a challenging task to", "a demanding undertaking to", or "a complex endeavor to" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "a difficult feat to accomplish" or "a difficult feat to achieve"?

Both "accomplish" and "achieve" work well after "a difficult feat to". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. "Accomplish" often implies completing something, while "achieve" focuses on attaining a goal.

When is it not appropriate to use the phrase "a difficult feat to"?

Avoid using the phrase for simple or trivial tasks. For example, saying "Making toast was "a difficult feat to"" would be an overstatement. Reserve the phrase for situations where the difficulty is genuinely significant.