a tough start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tough start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a difficult beginning to a situation, project, or experience. Example: "Despite a tough start, the team managed to turn things around and achieve their goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have had a tough start.

Independent

Hoare had a tough start in life.

The Guardian

The project had a tough start.

The Guardian - Travel

It has been a tough start.

The Guardian

"It's been a tough start to the season.

Independent

"It has been a tough start to the group.

Independent

"It is no secret that we had a tough start.

Independent

It is a tough start but we would expect that".

The Guardian - Sport

Opening fixture: Manchester United (A) "It is a tough start.

The Guardian - Sport

Half century up, well played after a tough start.

The Guardian - Sport

Girardi had a tough start in New York.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tough start" when describing the initial phase of a project, season, or personal journey to set the stage for subsequent developments.

Common error

Avoid using "a tough start" as a generic phrase. Always specify what made the beginning challenging to maintain audience engagement and comprehension.

Linguistic Context

"A tough start" primarily functions as a noun phrase used as an adverbial to describe the initial condition or phase of an event, project, or period. It provides context and sets the stage for understanding subsequent developments. Ludwig examples illustrate its usage in sports, business, and personal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

35%

General

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tough start" is a versatile phrase used to describe challenging beginnings across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. The phrase functions as an adverbial, setting the stage for narratives of resilience or explanations of current situations. It's predominantly found in news, sports reporting and general discourse, maintaining a neutral register. When using "a tough start", provide specific context to enhance clarity and avoid overuse. Remember, while it often implies negative initial conditions, it can also highlight eventual success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a challenging beginning

Replaces "tough" with "challenging", emphasizing the difficulty aspect.

a difficult commencement

Substitutes "tough" with "difficult" and "start" with "commencement", increasing formality.

a rocky initiation

Replaces "tough" with "rocky" and "start" with "initiation", implying instability and hardship at the beginning.

an arduous kickoff

Uses "arduous" for "tough" and "kickoff" for "start", suggesting a laborious beginning.

a problematic launch

Replaces "tough" with "problematic" and "start" with "launch", highlighting the issues faced at the outset.

a trying outset

Substitutes "tough" with "trying" and "start" with "outset", indicating a testing initial period.

a demanding dawn

Uses "demanding" instead of "tough" and "dawn" for "start", emphasizing the taxing nature of the beginning.

a bumpy take-off

Replaces "tough" with "bumpy" and "start" with "take-off", implying an unsteady and difficult beginning, often in a metaphorical sense.

an unfavorable introduction

Replaces "tough" with "unfavorable" and "start" with "introduction", focusing on the negative aspects of the initial phase.

a grim opening

Uses "grim" for "tough" and "opening" for "start", suggesting a bleak and challenging beginning.

FAQs

What does "a tough start" mean?

The phrase "a tough start" refers to a difficult or challenging beginning to a project, period, or situation. It implies that the initial phase was marked by problems or hardships.

How can I use "a tough start" in a sentence?

You can use "a tough start" to describe a challenging beginning, such as, "Despite "a tough start", the team eventually found its rhythm and achieved success."

What are some alternatives to saying "a tough start"?

Alternatives to "a tough start" include phrases like "a challenging beginning", "a difficult commencement", or "a rocky initiation" depending on the context.

Is it always negative to have "a tough start"?

While "a tough start" typically implies negative initial conditions, it can also set the stage for a story of resilience and eventual success, highlighting the progress made despite the initial difficulties.