make heavy going of it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make heavy going of it" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone is finding a task difficult or challenging, often implying that they are struggling more than expected. Example: "She really made heavy going of it when trying to understand the complex math problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he is making heavy weather of it.

The Economist

New product development nowadays makes heavy use of IT instruments such as virtual simulation tools.

Research Policy

It makes heavy use of technology in the form of geo-locators and aircraft.

Yale University

In the past couple of years it has made heavy investments in satellite television in America and Italy.

The Economist

"It's a happy and relieved changing room we made heavy weather of that.

BBC

Even then, Blackpool made very heavy weather of it.

The Guardian - Sport

This kind of discussion can make Ben Lerner's novel sound more heavy-going than it is; in fact, like his verse, it has a beguiling mixture of lightness and weight.

The New Yorker

The worm occupies the first third of the book, making for heavy-going reading as endless colleagues are introduced, only to disappear rapidly from the account.

The Guardian - Books

Her fondness for both sweeping statements and for the intricate details of the stories she covered sometimes made conversation heavy-going.

The Economist

A fondness for both sweeping statements and intricate details sometimes made conversation heavy-going.

The Economist

Unisys, the 138-year old tech firm, has quickly made "going social" part of its culture.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make heavy going of it" to describe situations where a task is proving more difficult than initially anticipated, often due to unforeseen complications or inefficiency.

Common error

Avoid using overly complex language when "make heavy going of it" already conveys the intended meaning. Simpler sentences often enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make heavy going of it" functions as an idiomatic expression. It's used to describe situations where someone is finding a task more difficult than it should be. Ludwig AI confirms that this is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make heavy going of it" is a grammatically sound and commonly used idiom to describe encountering unexpected difficulties with a task. Ludwig AI analysis of real-world examples indicates it’s most frequently found in news and media contexts, though it is also present in academic and scientific writing. While there are several alternatives, such as "struggle with it" or "find it difficult", the original phrase carries a specific nuance that implies unnecessary complication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggle with it

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct and simple phrase indicating difficulty.

find it difficult

Offers a straightforward way of expressing the difficulty encountered with something.

have a hard time with it

Indicates experiencing problems or difficulty in dealing with something.

labor over it

Suggests putting in a lot of effort and time, often implying difficulty and slow progress.

wrestle with it

Implies a struggle and effort to overcome a challenge or problem.

find it challenging

Emphasizes the difficulty as a stimulating or demanding task.

have difficulty with it

A more formal way of saying that someone is having a hard time.

encounter obstacles

Focuses on the barriers or challenges faced during the process.

face an uphill battle

Suggests a difficult and protracted struggle against opposition or challenges.

make hard work of it

Highlights the unnecessary effort and difficulty created in dealing with something.

FAQs

What does "make heavy going of it" mean?

It means to find something more difficult than it needs to be, or to struggle unnecessarily with a task.

What can I say instead of "make heavy going of it"?

You can use alternatives like "struggle with it", "find it difficult", or "have a hard time with it".

Is "make heavy weather of it" the same as "make heavy going of it"?

Yes, "make heavy weather of it" is an equivalent idiom that carries the same meaning as "make heavy going of it".

How to use "make heavy going of it" in a sentence?

Example: "She really "made heavy going of it" when trying to understand the complex math problem."