hard to entertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to entertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who is difficult to amuse or engage in conversation or activities. Example: "He is hard to entertain, as he rarely finds anything amusing or interesting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"Shopping for gifts is all about entertainment," Ms. Gottlieb said, "and we try very hard to entertain our customers".

The New York Times

Still, the lack of space made it hard to entertain.

The New York Times

She's snazzily dressed in jaguar-print jacket and trousers and is working hard to entertain.

Independent

To those who love Médée, McVicar will seem to have tried too hard to entertain those who don't.

Independent

Hospitals now have itinerant clowns, usually loners who seem to be trying too hard, to entertain patients.

The New York Times

Five members of the Detroit hip-hop conglomerate D12 had worked hard to entertain her, but that wasn't enough.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Everyone else was working extra-hard to entertain us.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's a bloody sight harder to entertain than to bore".

The Guardian - Film

The Leeds crowd always appreciate good cricket and we'll be trying our hardest to entertain the fans".

The Guardian

There is one complaint about the ad, though, that is harder to entertain, and that is the one about Romney not having to talk about anything that happened at Bain after 1998.

The New Yorker

Though aimed at an older demographic, and a notionally higher IQ, it is in the same galumphing manner as last week's The A-Team, a loud, frenetic and poorly written action movie that could have tried harder to entertain us, or at least tried not to insult our intelligence so flagrantly.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to entertain" to describe something that requires creativity, patience and effort.

Common error

Don't assume that someone who is "hard to entertain" is necessarily unhappy or negative. Their tastes may simply be refined or unique, requiring a more tailored approach to amusement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to entertain" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the difficulty or challenge associated with the act of entertaining someone or something. As seen in Ludwig, it expresses a quality or characteristic.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to entertain" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression for describing someone or something difficult to amuse or please. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, suggesting its neutrality and broad applicability. When using this phrase, consider providing specific context to illustrate why amusement is challenging. Alternatives such as "difficult to amuse" or "challenging to entertain" can offer slight variations in tone. Steer clear of generalizations and recognize that unique tastes might explain why an individual is "hard to entertain". Overall, this phrase is a useful and versatile tool for expressing the difficulty of providing satisfactory amusement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to amuse

Replaces "hard" with "difficult", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

challenging to entertain

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging", suggesting a more active effort is required to entertain.

not easily entertained

Uses a passive construction to convey the difficulty in entertaining someone.

tough to amuse

Employs "tough" for "hard", offering a slightly more informal tone.

difficult to engage

Highlights the struggle to involve or occupy someone's attention.

demanding audience

Focuses on the recipient of entertainment being demanding rather than the act itself being difficult.

hard to please

Shifts the focus to pleasing rather than simply entertaining, implying a higher standard.

resistant to amusement

Suggests an active opposition to being entertained.

unresponsive to entertainment

Emphasizes a lack of reaction to attempts at entertainment.

requires considerable effort to entertain

Highlights the amount of effort needed to entertain

FAQs

What does "hard to entertain" mean?

The phrase "hard to entertain" describes someone or something that is difficult to amuse, please, or engage. It implies a high standard or particular taste that is not easily satisfied.

What can I say instead of "hard to entertain"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to amuse", "challenging to entertain", or "not easily entertained" depending on the context.

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

Here's an example: "The toddler was "hard to entertain" on the long flight, so we had to get creative with games and stories." You can also describe things that way, like "Comedy movies are "hard to entertain" these days".

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

Both "difficult to entertain" and ""hard to entertain"" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Difficult" is slightly more formal than "hard", but the choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.