making it tough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making it tough" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or action that creates difficulty or challenges for someone or something. Example: "The unexpected changes in the project timeline are making it tough for the team to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yahoo is attempting to make a litany of significant, structural changes all at once, making it tough to achieve any kind of real cohesion across its products.

TechCrunch

"They're making it tough on us".

The New York Times - Sports

"They were definitely making it tough.

The New York Times - Sports

"But getting no help from me is making it tough".

The New York Times - Sports

Starks elevated with him, making it tough with his interference.

The New York Times - Sports

Berdych showed signs of making it tough early on.

The Guardian - Sport

He was really putting it where he wanted to and making it tough".

The New York Times - Sports

And their husbands run their own businesses, making it tough to obtain financial information.

The New York Times

Politics is making it tough to solidify leadership at a handful of top regulators.

The New York Times

And, at the moment, this is making it tough for many reservists to concentrate.

The New York Times

Then the house was appraised for substantially less, making it tough to get a mortgage.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making it tough" to describe situations where something becomes genuinely challenging due to specific circumstances. Avoid using it for minor inconveniences to maintain impact.

Common error

While "making it tough" is versatile, avoid using it repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "presenting challenges" or "creating difficulties" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

Making it tough functions as a descriptive phrase, often part of a larger predicate. It indicates that someone or something is creating difficulties or challenges. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in describing problematic situations, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making it tough" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe situations or actions that are creating difficulty or challenges. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's frequently used in News & Media and Sports contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "presenting challenges" or "creating difficulties" for variety. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making things difficult

A more general way of expressing that something is not easy.

creating difficulties

Focuses on the act of creating the difficulty, rather than the resulting feeling of toughness.

presenting challenges

Emphasizes the existence of challenges that need to be overcome.

posing obstacles

Highlights the obstruction aspect of the difficulty.

complicating matters

Suggests that the situation is becoming more complex and harder to manage.

creating a struggle

Emphasizes the effort required to overcome the difficulty.

hindering progress

Specifically focuses on how the difficulty is slowing down advancement.

proving arduous

Highlights the demanding and laborious nature of the situation.

introducing hardship

Emphasizes the element of suffering or adversity.

exacerbating the problem

Indicates that the difficulty is making an existing problem worse.

FAQs

How can I use "making it tough" in a sentence?

You can use "making it tough" to describe anything that is creating difficulty or obstacles. For example, "The lack of funding is making it tough to complete the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "making it tough"?

Alternatives include "making things difficult", "presenting challenges", or "creating difficulties". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "making it tough" or "making it difficult"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Making it tough" might imply a more resilient or enduring challenge compared to "making it difficult". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "making it tough on someone" mean?

"Making it tough on someone" means creating a situation that is difficult or unpleasant for that person. For example, "The new regulations are making it tough on small businesses."