difficult to handle

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to handle" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a difficult situation or problem that needs to be dealt with. For example: "The customer was difficult to handle, but we managed to resolve their issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's always difficult to handle nerves, everything, the game".

The Guardian - Sport

"I find that difficult to handle as a manager.

Independent

He's world class and is very difficult to handle.

Independent

Hypergolic fuels are extremely toxic and thus difficult to handle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The wind and cold is sometimes difficult to handle".

The New York Times - Sports

He's very difficult to handle one-on-one.

The New York Times - Sports

It was difficult to handle the chemicals without getting poisoned.

The New Yorker

Even so, the ordeal has been difficult to handle.

The New York Times

It will be much more difficult to handle".

The New York Times - Arts

Disadvantage: Large pots are difficult to handle and messy.

The New York Times - Food

Theoretical model building yields to complicated models difficult to handle.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing interpersonal dynamics, use "difficult to handle" to convey the challenges in managing someone's behavior or emotions objectively. For example: "The client's demands were difficult to handle, requiring patience and diplomacy."

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to handle" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "challenging to manage" or "complex to address" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to handle" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing something that presents challenges in management or interaction. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

31%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to handle" is a versatile phrase used to describe entities or situations that pose management or interaction challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general conversation, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing. Remember to consider the specific context and desired tone when choosing between "difficult to handle" and synonyms like "challenging to manage" or "complex to address".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenging to manage

Focuses on the management aspect, highlighting the difficulty in controlling or directing something.

hard to deal with

Emphasizes the problematic nature of interacting or engaging with something.

complex to address

Highlights the complicated nature of a problem or situation requiring careful attention.

problematic to resolve

Stresses the difficulty in finding a solution to a specific issue.

unwieldy to control

Suggests a lack of ease and grace in handling something, often due to its size or nature.

tough to contend with

Emphasizes the strength or resilience required to manage a challenging situation.

awkward to manipulate

Implies clumsiness or difficulty in physically or strategically maneuvering something.

tricky to navigate

Focuses on the delicate nature of proceeding through a situation or system.

delicate to approach

Highlights the need for caution and sensitivity when dealing with a person or situation.

cumbersome to operate

Implies that something is inefficient and hard to use.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to handle" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to handle" to describe situations, people, or objects that present challenges in management or interaction. For example: "The fragile antique was "delicate to handle"", or "His erratic behavior was "hard to deal with"".

What are some alternatives to saying "difficult to handle"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "challenging to manage", ""hard to deal with"", or "complex to address".

Is "difficult to handle" formal or informal?

"Difficult to handle" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. For highly formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "challenging to manage" or "problematic to resolve".

What makes something "difficult to handle"?

Something might be "difficult to handle" due to its complexity, fragility, the skill required, or the challenging behavior of a person. The specific reason will vary depending on the context.