difficult to leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to leave" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or place that is hard to depart from, often due to emotional attachment or comfort. Example: "After spending a wonderful week at the beach, it was difficult to leave and return to the daily grind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Difficult to leave.

The New Yorker

Incredibly difficult to leave.

The Guardian - Travel

It's difficult to leave your business behind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It was difficult to leave my parents' home," he said.

The New Yorker

Once on Facebook, is it extremely difficult to leave completely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Once in however, it is very difficult to leave.

The Guardian

That made it difficult to leave, which he did just before Christmas.

The New York Times

We stayed much too long at the table, but oases of kindness are difficult to leave.

The New York Times

She became, the author writes, "a mirror image of my motherland: overbearing, protective, difficult to leave.

The New York Times - Books

"Obviously it's difficult to leave your position and go and get goal-scoring opportunities.

Independent

I feel that I should go, but it is strangely difficult to leave.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to leave" to soften the feeling that something is not possible or something is negative. For example: "It's difficult to leave, but the best option is to find a new place far from here".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to leave" when something is simply inconvenient or requires minimal effort. Reserve it for situations where genuine emotional attachment or significant obstacles make departure challenging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to leave" functions primarily as a subjective assessment, describing the perceived level of challenge in departing from a particular situation or place. It often reflects an emotional connection or a sense of comfort that makes separation undesirable, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to leave" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey reluctance or hardship in departing from a situation, place, or relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's employed across various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in scientific and general writing. The phrase's strength lies in its ability to express emotional attachment or the presence of obstacles hindering departure. When writing, consider using synonyms like "hard to depart from" or "challenging to exit" for variety. However, remember to reserve "difficult to leave" for situations where genuine emotional connections or significant obstacles exist, not for mere inconveniences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to depart from

Emphasizes the physical act of leaving and the associated hardship.

challenging to exit

Focuses on the difficulty in making an exit, suggesting potential obstacles.

tough to break away from

Implies a struggle to separate oneself, often from something binding or comforting.

reluctant to abandon

Highlights the unwillingness to leave something behind, suggesting emotional attachment.

unwilling to relinquish

Focuses on the act of giving up or letting go, emphasizing resistance to departure.

not easy to walk away from

Stresses the ease of leaving, suggesting emotional investment makes it challenging.

a struggle to escape

Highlights the effort required to get out of the situation, like a forced or necessary movement.

hard to say goodbye to

Directly expresses the sadness or difficulty associated with ending something.

a bind to extract oneself from

Highlights that leaving the place or situation is a problem with a high grade of difficulty.

a trap to be escaped

Highlights an unwanted difficulty or negative state of leaving, where the person or situation is kept under control by an external agent.

FAQs

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

Use "difficult to leave" to express reluctance or hardship in departing from a place, situation, or person. For instance, "After such a wonderful visit, it was difficult to leave my family" or "The comfortable routine made it difficult to leave the job".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to leave"?

You can use alternatives such as "hard to depart from", "challenging to exit", or "tough to break away from" depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "difficult to leave" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in written and spoken English. It follows the standard structure of an adjective followed by an infinitive verb.

What makes a situation "difficult to leave"?

A situation can be "difficult to leave" due to emotional attachments, comfort, security, financial constraints, or a combination of these factors. The difficulty arises from the reluctance to give up these benefits or face the uncertainties of a new situation.