be difficult to meet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be difficult to meet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges in fulfilling a requirement, expectation, or obligation. Example: "Due to the tight schedule, it may be difficult to meet the deadline for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

That deadline may be difficult to meet.

The New York Times

These goals will be difficult to meet.

The Economist

"Even our current expenditures will be difficult to meet".

The New York Times

Even so, the deadline of 2014 was always going to be difficult to meet.

The Economist

Privately, Senate leadership aides said Mr. Obama's deadline could be difficult to meet.

The New York Times - Health

Some House Republicans had said it would be difficult to meet that deadline.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Organizing a team meeting was a bottleneck '… because it's difficult to meet during working hours and people aren't so willing to meet after work'.

BMC Pediatrics

"It's difficult to meet quality people," she said.

The New York Times

But these obligations are difficult to meet when there is no effective treatment".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's difficult to meet a woman who can deal with going out with a musician.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No wonder new MPs complain that it's difficult to meet the expectations of their constituents.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be difficult to meet", ensure the context clearly defines what specific target or expectation is challenging to achieve. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the difficulty unless it's genuinely significant. Overusing phrases like "be impossible to meet" when "be difficult to meet" is more accurate can diminish the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be difficult to meet" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a prediction or assessment about the likelihood of achieving a certain objective. Ludwig AI confirms its common use in expressing potential challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be difficult to meet" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express the likelihood of a challenge in achieving a specific target or requirement. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's versatile enough for various contexts, including News & Media and scientific writing, but it is still important to consider the specific context and choose the most appropriate alternative, like "be challenging to achieve" or "pose a significant hurdle", to maintain the desired level of formality and precision. When using the phrase, it's crucial to clearly define what target or expectation is challenging and to avoid overstating the difficulty to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be challenging to achieve

Emphasizes the level of challenge involved in reaching the target.

be hard to accomplish

Highlights the effort required for completion.

be unlikely to attain

Focuses on the low probability of success.

be problematic to fulfill

Stresses the issues and complications in fulfilling the obligation.

pose a significant hurdle

Highlights the obstacle that makes achievement complicated.

be a tall order

Indicates that the task is substantial and demanding.

stretch resources considerably

Emphasizes the pressure and strain imposed on existing resources.

prove taxing to accomplish

Focuses on how exhausting and draining the task can be.

present considerable obstacles

Focuses on the obstructions that could prevent achievement.

demand significant exertion

Highlights the substantial effort required to complete.

FAQs

How can I use "be difficult to meet" in a sentence?

You can use "be difficult to meet" to describe goals, deadlines, or expectations that are challenging to achieve. For example: "The deadline may "be difficult to meet"."

What's a formal alternative to "be difficult to meet"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "be challenging to achieve" or "pose a significant hurdle" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

What can I say instead of "be difficult to meet" when downplaying a challenge?

If you want to downplay the challenge, you might say "be slightly inconvenient" or "require extra effort" instead of "be difficult to meet".

Which is correct, "be difficult to meet" or "be difficult meeting"?

"Be difficult to meet" is the correct form. "Meet" should be in the infinitive form after "to". "Be difficult meeting" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts.