hard to budge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to budge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is difficult to move or shift from its position. For example, "The giant boulder was hard to budge and I had to call a team of workers to help me move it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The status quo is hard to budge, for one.

The New York Times - Health

With a bomb, it would be very hard to budge the administration".

The New York Times - Magazine

When Wenceslas is on the ball he's just very hard to budge.

Independent

He says that our parents sometimes lay stones in our path that are hard to budge.

The New York Times

The "standard model" of identifying gaps, devising initiatives to fill them, and disseminating the guidance is incredibly hard to budge.

The Guardian

The competition safeguard is that these contracts are won as part of a transparent tendering process.The problem is that incumbents are hard to budge.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Global deflation could be even harder to budge.

The Economist

The robot grouped the outcomes of approximately 300 attempts as it discovered that some blocks were harder to budge than others.

The Guardian - Tech

But if fraudsters get on the books under false identities, they may prove harder to budge: Mr Hearnden and his colleagues will no longer be able to nab them at the post office counter.

The Economist

We're seeing a lot of evolution and growth in the world of mobile ads — Facebook's recent introduction of ads into its mobile platform being one key development — but some stats are proving harder to budge.

TechCrunch

If you're young and skinny you might be able to soak it up like a sponge right now but you're laying down the foundations for fattening up later and one day, you'll wake up and notice changes that you don't much like and that are much harder to budge because you don't metabolize or move like you did when younger.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to budge" to describe something that is difficult to move, influence, or change, whether physically or metaphorically. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is resisting movement or change.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to budge" when describing something that is simply challenging but not inherently resistant. For example, a complex problem might be challenging to solve, but not necessarily "hard to budge" unless there is an element of resistance or inflexibility involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to budge" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the quality of being difficult to move, shift, or change. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the structure is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hard to budge" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that describes something resistant to movement, change, or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical validity and appropriateness. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral register. While various alternatives exist, such as "difficult to dislodge" or "resistant to change", "hard to budge" effectively conveys the sense of something being firmly established and unyielding. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is exhibiting resistance, and avoid applying it to situations that are merely challenging without inherent resistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to dislodge

This alternative emphasizes the effort required to remove something physically or metaphorically.

tough to shift

This phrase implies that something is resistant to being moved or altered.

resistant to change

This alternative directly addresses the concept of unwillingness or difficulty in accepting change.

unyielding

This term highlights the inflexibility and firmness of something.

immovable

This phrase emphasizes the fixed and unchangeable nature of something.

firmly entrenched

This indicates that something is strongly established and difficult to remove.

difficult to influence

This alternative focuses on the resistance to external pressure or persuasion.

set in its ways

This phrase suggests a habitual and stubborn adherence to established patterns.

stubborn

This emphasizes the characteristic of being obstinate and resistant to change or movement.

intransigent

This formal term denotes an unwillingness or refusal to compromise or agree.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to budge" in a sentence?

You can use "hard to budge" to describe something resistant to movement or change. For example, "The old policy was "resistant to change", making it "difficult to dislodge"."

What are some alternatives to "hard to budge"?

Some alternatives include "difficult to dislodge", "resistant to change", or "unyielding", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hard to budge"?

Yes, "hard to budge" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is appropriate for use in writing.

In what contexts is "hard to budge" most appropriate?

"Hard to budge" is most appropriate in contexts where something is proving difficult to move or change, often due to inherent resistance or established inertia. Consider alternatives like "tough to shift" or "firmly entrenched" if a different nuance is desired.