difficult affair

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult affair" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is used to describe a task, problem, or situation that is difficult to deal with. For example: Navigating the legal system was a difficult affair for the young couple.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

A further complication arose when Bainbridge began a long and difficult affair with Colin.

The Guardian - Books

FOR the oil industry, with its sprawling and hazardous facilities, keeping on top of corrosion is a particularly difficult affair.

The Economist

Making cookies might seem like a trivial task for some, but for today's robot, it is a pretty difficult affair.

The New York Times

The Prime Minister's encounter with Jeremy Paxman at the beginning of the programme had been a much more difficult affair.

Independent

For the oil industry, with its sprawling and hazardous facilities, keeping on top of the rot is a particularly difficult affair.

The Economist

The two men went out for dinner to discuss the project: a stiff, difficult affair, which turned round on the ride home in Gosling's car.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

These bomb runs were more accurate than attacks from high altitude, but they were harrowing and difficult affairs.

The New York Times

Heat transfer equations are such phenomena which mostly occur nonlinearly, hence solving them has been one of the most time-consuming and difficult affairs among researchers of heat transfer.

International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer

He even reminded her of a difficult love affair in order to evoke more suffering.

The New York Times

We were destroyed by the investigation, and by enduring so much together in the five years of the difficult love affair of difficult people.

The Guardian - Tech

She abandons it - to the horror of her teacher - and her artistic and spiritual life is displaced into a difficult love affair.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult affair" when you want to emphasize not just the difficulty, but also the complexity and potentially drawn-out nature of a situation. It's more than just hard; it's intricate and involved.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult affair" to describe simple tasks or problems. Reserve it for situations that are genuinely complex and multifaceted. Saying "making coffee was a difficult affair" is an overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult affair" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "affair". It typically acts as a subject complement or object in a sentence, describing a situation, task, or relationship that is challenging and complex. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult affair" effectively describes a challenging and complex situation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science. While synonyms such as "challenging situation" or "complex matter" exist, "difficult affair" carries a nuance of intricacy and potential for prolonged complications. Remember to reserve its use for situations that warrant its weight, avoiding overuse in simpler scenarios. Its presence in reputable sources like The Guardian and The Economist affirms its acceptability in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging situation

Replaces "affair" with "situation", focusing on the problematic circumstance rather than a specific event or matter.

complex matter

Substitutes "difficult" with "complex" and "affair" with "matter", highlighting intricacy and complication.

tough situation

Replaces "difficult" with "tough", emphasizing the hardship involved.

complicated business

Uses "complicated" instead of "difficult" and "business" instead of "affair", suggesting a complex undertaking.

tricky issue

Replaces "difficult" with "tricky" and "affair" with "issue", indicating a delicate and potentially problematic subject.

problematic endeavor

Substitutes "difficult" with "problematic" and "affair" with "endeavor", focusing on the challenges within a project or undertaking.

delicate situation

Replaces "difficult" with "delicate", implying a need for careful handling.

thorny problem

Uses a metaphorical description indicating a problem that is full of difficulties and complexities.

arduous task

Replaces "difficult" with "arduous" and "affair" with "task", highlighting the effort and exertion required.

trying experience

Substitutes with a phrase focusing on the challenging and stressful nature of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult affair" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult affair" to describe challenging situations, tasks, or relationships. For example: "Negotiating the contract proved to be a "difficult affair"." or "Their love was a "difficult affair", filled with obstacles."

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult affair"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "challenging situation", "complex matter", or "tough situation".

Is "difficult affair" formal or informal?

"Difficult affair" is generally considered neutral to formal. It can be used in news articles, books, and formal discussions, but it is also acceptable in less formal settings.

What makes something a "difficult affair" rather than just "difficult"?

The term "difficult affair" suggests that the situation is not only challenging but also intricate and complex, often involving multiple steps or elements. It implies a drawn-out and potentially problematic process, rather than a simple obstacle.