anything but easy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything but easy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation or task that is challenging or difficult, emphasizing that it is far from being easy. Example: "The project turned out to be anything but easy, requiring countless hours of work and collaboration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Anything but easy.

The New York Times

It was anything but easy.

The Washington Post

It will also be anything but easy.

The New York Times

His process is anything but easy.

The New York Times

The going has been anything but easy.

The Guardian - Arts

"It was anything but easy," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

2010 will be anything but easy.

The Guardian - Business

Despite the obvious natural resources, this expectation has proved anything but easy to satisfy.

Endeavour

But a collection is anything but easy to deal with.

The New York Times

The goal of simplicity is anything but easy to achieve.

MIT Technology Review

Achieving this shift in perspective is anything but easy.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anything but easy" to emphasize the unexpected difficulty of a task or situation. It's most effective when contrasting initial expectations of simplicity.

Common error

Avoid using "anything but easy" when a simpler adjective like "difficult" suffices. The phrase is most impactful when highlighting a contrast between expectation and reality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything but easy" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its quality. It is frequently used to express that a task or situation is far from simple, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anything but easy" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express that something is unexpectedly difficult. Ludwig's examples showcase its prevalence in news, academic, and scientific contexts, highlighting its versatility. While alternatives like "far from easy" and "challenging" exist, "anything but easy" carries a unique emphasis on contrasting expectations with reality. When using the phrase, remember to leverage its strength by using it when there is a contrast of the expectations of simplicity but the reality of the difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and offers numerous real-world examples to guide its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from easy

Direct synonym, maintaining the same level of formality and emphasis.

by no means easy

Emphasizes the absence of ease; slightly more formal.

no easy task

Focuses on the 'task' aspect and its lack of ease.

not a walk in the park

Idiomatic expression implying difficulty; slightly less formal.

challenging

A more direct adjective describing the level of difficulty.

demanding

Highlights the high requirements and effort needed.

difficult

Simple and direct synonym, losing some of the original phrase's emphasis.

tough going

Informal and focuses on the process being arduous.

an uphill battle

Idiomatic, emphasizing the effort and resistance involved.

laborious

Highlights the effort required to accomplish something.

FAQs

How can I use "anything but easy" in a sentence?

Use "anything but easy" to emphasize that something is far from simple, often contrary to initial assumptions. For instance, "The project turned out to be "anything but easy", requiring extensive overtime and resources."

What are some alternatives to "anything but easy"?

Consider using alternatives like "far from easy", "not a walk in the park", or "challenging" to convey a similar meaning with slight variations in tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "anything but easy"?

Yes, "anything but easy" is grammatically correct and widely used in English. It's an idiomatic expression that functions as an adjective phrase.

What's the difference between "anything but easy" and "difficult"?

"Anything but easy" implies a situation was expected to be simple but turned out to be hard. "Difficult" is a more general term for something that requires effort. Therefore, "anything but easy" carries a stronger sense of surprise or disappointment compared to "difficult".