as tricky as

USAGE SUMMARY

'as tricky as' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a comparative construction usually used to compare two things that are difficult or similarly difficult. For example: "Figuring out the company's pension plan was as tricky as solving a complex math equation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nabbing these guys is as tricky as catching fish with your bare hands.

Forbes

This juggling act is not as tricky as it sounds.

The New York Times

But splitting up could prove just as tricky as merging.

The New York Times

Today, subtitles in cinema are as tricky as ever.

The Guardian - Opinion

It turns out that measuring water use is just as tricky as measuring carbon dioxide emissions.

The New York Times

But Don Sebastian can be as tricky as a wagon load of monkeys.

Independent

Four hundred years on, the poser is as tricky as ever.

Independent

Taking pictures of the sea is almost as tricky as surfing.

The Guardian - Travel

But the new game can be as tricky as the old one.

The New York Times

Casting Mandela, I suggest to Travis, must be as tricky as finding the right actor to play the Queen.

Independent

ODI-lay hee-ho Back on the front burner ReprintsNowhere is the nuclear dilemma as tricky as in China.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as tricky as", ensure that both elements being compared are genuinely challenging or complex. This strengthens the comparison and avoids diminishing the impact of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid comparing situations that are too dissimilar. For example, saying "solving a rubik's cube is as tricky as tying your shoes" weakens the impact of "as tricky as" because the two tasks are not comparable in difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as tricky as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to draw a parallel between the difficulty or complexity of two distinct subjects, indicating they possess a similar level of challenge. As Ludwig AI confirms, this comparative construction is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as tricky as" is a common and grammatically sound comparative phrase used to equate the level of difficulty between two subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to emphasize challenges and complexities. When writing, ensure the compared items are genuinely comparable in difficulty to maintain the phrase's effectiveness. Alternatives like "equally challenging" or "just as complex" can provide stylistic variation while retaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally challenging

Replaces "tricky" with "challenging" to emphasize the difficulty, altering the specific descriptor while maintaining the comparative structure.

just as complex

Substitutes "tricky" with "complex" to highlight the intricate nature of something, keeping the comparative aspect intact.

no less problematic

Uses a double negative to assert that something is equally problematic, offering a slightly more formal tone.

similarly demanding

Employs "demanding" instead of "tricky" to underscore the effort required, maintaining the comparison.

comparably intricate

Replaces "tricky" with "intricate" to emphasize detailed complexity, preserving the comparative framework.

of equal difficulty

Changes the structure to state the equality of difficulty directly, rather than using a comparative construction.

presents similar obstacles

Shifts the focus to the obstacles presented, rather than describing the inherent trickiness, while maintaining the comparative sense.

poses equivalent challenges

Uses "poses" to describe the challenges and "equivalent" to maintain the same level of difficulty, altering the sentence structure.

bears a resemblance in complexity

Highlights the resemblance in complexity between two things, moving away from the direct comparison of difficulty.

is on par in terms of difficulty

Emphasizes that something is on par in terms of difficulty, but uses a more verbose and formal phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "as tricky as" in a sentence?

Use "as tricky as" to compare two situations or tasks that are similarly challenging. For example, "Negotiating the contract was "as tricky as" navigating a political minefield."

What are some alternatives to "as tricky as"?

Alternatives include phrases like "equally challenging", "just as complex", or "no less problematic", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as trickier as"?

No, "as trickier as" is grammatically incorrect. The correct comparative form is ""as tricky as"", where "tricky" remains in its base form.

What's the difference between "as tricky as" and "more tricky than"?

"As tricky as" implies that two things are equally challenging, while "more tricky than" suggests one thing is more difficult than the other. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize equality or inequality in difficulty.