difficult to please

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to please" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a person who is hard to satisfy or make happy. For example, "My boss is very difficult to please; no matter how hard I try, nothing seems to be good enough for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Jinnah, however, remained difficult to please.

The New Yorker

One's mentors are difficult to please.

The New York Times - Books

And it's very difficult to please everyone.

The Guardian

Glaswegian audiences are notoriously difficult to please.

The Guardian

She is difficult to please and we were in there for hours.

Independent

In today's universities, it seems, it is increasingly difficult to please anyone.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith are having a gruelling August, hauling themselves from gig to gig playing to difficult, hard to please crowds, getting brutal reviews and by this point, even they must be bored of their own material.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's also disappointed, fearful, handsome and grumpy, "hard to please, and difficult to surprise".

The New York Times - Books

He was a difficult man to please.

The New Yorker

His advice to fellow floundering writers is: "I find it a very good plan, when I cannot get a difficult discussion to please me, to fancy that someone comes into the room and asks me what I am doing, then try at once and explain to the imaginary person what it is all about".

The Guardian

When it comes to Android phones, John and I are difficult people to please.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "difficult to please", provide specific examples of their behavior or expectations to illustrate the extent of their demanding nature.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to please" as a blanket statement without providing context. Instead of saying "He's just difficult to please", specify what makes him so, such as "He's difficult to please because he always focuses on minor details and ignores the overall quality".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to please" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate someone's demanding or hard-to-satisfy nature. As Ludwig suggests, it describes a quality of a person or entity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to please" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone who is hard to satisfy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English and effectively communicates a challenging or demanding nature. While generally carrying a negative connotation, it can occasionally suggest high standards. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, indicating its widespread applicability. Alternatives include "hard to satisfy" and "demanding", though the best choice depends on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to satisfy

Focuses on the challenge of meeting someone's expectations.

tough to appease

Highlights the difficulty in pacifying or satisfying someone.

demanding

Emphasizes the high standards or expectations someone has.

exacting

Stresses the rigorous and precise requirements someone sets.

fastidious

Indicates a meticulous and detail-oriented nature, making satisfaction challenging.

critical

Suggests a tendency to find fault or judge harshly.

finicky

Implies pickiness and fussiness, making it hard to find something acceptable.

particular

Indicates specific preferences that are not easily met.

choosy

Highlights a selective nature, making it difficult to please.

discriminating

Emphasizes refined taste and discerning judgment.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to please" to describe someone who is hard to satisfy. For example, "The client was very difficult to please, constantly changing their requirements".

What's a similar phrase to "difficult to please"?

Alternatives to "difficult to please" include "hard to satisfy", "demanding", or "exacting".

Is it better to say "difficult to please" or "hard to please"?

"Difficult to please" and "hard to please" are largely interchangeable. "Difficult" may sound slightly more formal, but both are widely understood and accepted.

Can "difficult to please" have a positive connotation?

Generally, "difficult to please" has a negative connotation, implying someone is overly demanding. However, in some contexts, it could suggest high standards or a discerning nature. For example, 'She is difficult to please because she has great taste'.