difficult to indulge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to indulge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or a person that makes it hard to give in to desires or requests. Example: "It is often difficult to indulge in luxuries when you are on a tight budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

As usual, New Zealand made it difficult to indulge in completely wholehearted admiration of their supremacy.

The Guardian - Sport

For them, Ms McGonigal recommends making it more difficult to indulge their habit: putting the phone on "airplane mode", unable to access the internet, or better still putting it in another room altogether.

The Economist

They have since moved to Los Angeles, where the car-centric culture makes it more difficult to indulge in what they once called "power dossing": taking long, aimless walks around the city, the better to observe collisions of personal expression and soul-crushing public space.

The New York Times - Arts

I point this out to Navoth, that it might be difficult to indulge in the fantasy that you, the reader, could be the love of your book boyfriend's life if you're bombarded with aggressively platonic text messages from him.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

This, in turn, has prompted Iran, another difficult neighbour, to indulge in its own trouble-making by allowing a murderous Islamic group, Ansar al-Islam, to operate in the impenetrable mountain terrain near the Iranian border.The encouraging news is that the rival Kurdish factions appear to be resisting attempts by external powers to pitch them back into fratricidal fighting.

The Economist

New York, like most states, makes it difficult for voters to indulge in fits of pique at politics as usual by installing an action hero in the governor's office.

The New York Times

It is more difficult for employers to indulge a taste for discrimination in a tight labor market.

IZA Journal of Migration

How difficult it is not to indulge in Thatcher-style triumphalism.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He isn't afraid to leave behind its story to indulge more difficult themes and movements in inventive and challenging ways".

The Guardian - Film

But in terms of selective sanctimony, as in terms of any other irresponsible indulgence that's harmful and makes a body difficult to be around, it's probably wise to indulge responsibly.

Vice

For cigarette addicts, finding somewhere to indulge their habit has grown increasingly difficult over the decades since the harms caused by tobacco became clear.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to indulge", ensure the context clearly indicates what desire or action is being restrained. For instance, specify if it's "difficult to indulge a craving" or "difficult to indulge a request".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to indulge" in overly general statements without specifying the subject or object of indulgence. Ambiguity can weaken the sentence's impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to indulge" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an infinitive verb. It describes the degree of ease or difficulty associated with allowing oneself or others to experience a particular pleasure or satisfaction. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to indulge" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe situations where satisfying a desire or granting a request is challenging. Ludwig AI confirms this. While relatively rare, it finds use across diverse contexts, notably in news, media, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the object of indulgence. Alternatives such as "hard to give in to" or "challenging to satisfy" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to give in to

Focuses on the resistance or reluctance to yield to a request or desire.

challenging to satisfy

Highlights the demanding nature of meeting expectations or desires.

tough to permit

Emphasizes the difficulty in granting permission or allowing something.

not easy to allow

Underlines the lack of ease in permitting an action or behavior.

requires restraint to enjoy

Highlights that pleasure must be held back and not freely expressed.

takes effort to satisfy

Focuses on the significant effort needed to fulfill requirements or desires.

not straightforward to gratify

Indicates the complicated nature of providing satisfaction or pleasure.

presents obstacles to enjoying

Highlights the presence of barriers that hinder or prevent enjoyment.

hard to be permissive towards

Emphasizes the difficulty to demonstrate tolerant behaviour.

demands control to relish

Highlights that pleasure must be held back and not freely expressed.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to indulge" to describe situations where it's challenging to give in to a desire or request. For example: "It is often difficult to indulge in luxuries when you are on a tight budget."

What's a good alternative to "difficult to indulge"?

Alternatives include "hard to give in to", "challenging to satisfy", or "tough to permit" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficult to indulge"?

Yes, "difficult to indulge" is grammatically correct. It uses the adjective "difficult" to describe the infinitive phrase "to indulge". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

What does "difficult to indulge" imply?

The phrase "difficult to indulge" implies that there are obstacles or reasons that make it hard to satisfy a desire or allow oneself or someone else to enjoy something. It suggests a need for restraint or resistance.