make something difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make something difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to making a situation or task more challenging or complex. For example: "The final exam made passing the course very difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Make something difficult and you begin to make it impossible.

The New Yorker

Practice had helped to make something difficult much easier.

The New York Times

Sprezzatura is an Italian word from a book written in the 1500's describing someone who can make something difficult look easy".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

At the same time, his animal images have a distancing effect, allowing the poet to see himself more clearly, or as he puts it in the poem "Orange Hole," to introduce "the idea of beauty as a salve / and of aesthetics making something difficult accessible".

The New Yorker

"I wanted to make something foreign and difficult to identify with understandable," he said.

The New York Times

A series of lithographs from the mid 80s comes from the period when the artist wanted to make "something smoky and difficult to see".

The Guardian

All of his books take different genres - psychological thriller, science fiction, love story, adventure yarn, straightforward weepie - and knit them together to make something classy and difficult and strange.

The Guardian - Books

But when you're left to try to make something of a difficult situation, it's not really an option to say: 'Let's sit it out and rest for six months.' With hindsight it's a lot easier.

The Guardian - Sport

If they make something like a difficult sauce, such as a hollandaise in week one, we see them help each other which is enchanting I think.

BBC

"I'm trying to make something that's difficult look as effortless as possible". Uh, she can say that again.

HuffPost

There is no reason to make something that is difficult even worse".

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how policies or actions negatively impact individuals or groups, using the phrase "make something difficult" can effectively convey the increased challenges they face.

Common error

While versatile, avoid overusing "make something difficult" in highly formal writing. Opt for synonyms like "complicate" or "exacerbate" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make something difficult" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of causing something to become challenging or problematic. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used to describe how actions or situations increase the level of difficulty associated with a task or process.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make something difficult" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of complicating or challenging a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common phrase appearing frequently in news and media, science, and general writing. While "complicate matters" and other synonyms might be preferable in strictly formal contexts, "make something difficult" is generally acceptable and effectively conveys the intended meaning of increasing the difficulty of something. Remember to consider the specific tone and audience when choosing between this phrase and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it challenging

Replaces "difficult" with a synonym, softening the impact slightly.

make it tough

Uses a more informal synonym for "difficult".

complicate matters

Focuses on adding complexity to a situation.

make life harder

Broadly refers to increasing the difficulty of someone's existence.

create obstacles

Emphasizes the introduction of barriers.

compound the difficulty

Emphasizes adding to an existing difficulty.

obstruct progress

Highlights the hindering of forward movement.

render problematic

Uses a more formal tone to indicate something becoming troublesome.

exacerbate the problem

Highlights the worsening of a specific issue.

aggravate the situation

Focuses on worsening an existing condition.

FAQs

How can I use "make something difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "make something difficult" to describe actions or situations that complicate matters. For example, "The new regulations "make compliance difficult" for small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "make something difficult"?

Alternatives include phrases like "complicate matters", "obstruct progress", or "create obstacles", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make something difficult" or "complicate something"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "complicate something" might be more suitable in formal contexts. "Make something difficult" is generally acceptable in most situations.

What's the difference between "make something difficult" and "make something impossible"?

"Make something difficult" implies that a task is harder but still achievable, while "make something impossible" means the task cannot be done at all. The former suggests increased challenge, the latter suggests complete obstruction.