passing difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passing difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a temporary or minor challenge that someone is experiencing. Example: "Despite the passing difficulty of the project, the team remained optimistic about meeting the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But adult hunger is no longer a passing difficulty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

French foreign and defense policies during the year were marked by some passing difficulties with EU partners and a further shift toward the U.S. and NATO.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They are really passing through difficulty.

The New York Times

Their skeletons have signs of arthritis, and their lower vertebrae point to a life passed in difficulty, he said.

The Guardian

With the pro-European Liberal Democrats in tow and the kind of majority that Mr Major could only dream of, the legislation to ratify the constitutional treaty will pass without difficulty.

The Economist

An 18 French nonweighted nasogastric tube was passed without difficulty, and gastric lavage revealed a small amount of blood clots before running clear aspirates that smelled of alcohol.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

The Act of Supremacy was passed without difficulty.

Wikipedia

In order to ensure it would pass without difficulty, he consulted privately with senior Army officers and the King, as well as the leader of the Opposition, to gain their support for the principles of the legislation.

Wikipedia

In many poor districts of Kinshasa, where even a motorbike passes with difficulty, a truck with a mechanical drill cannot be used.

Unicef

Health problems like difficulty passing urine and diarrhoea abounded.

The Guardian

Mixed-race families who had difficulty passing sometimes explained dark complexions as coming from an American Indian or Mediterranean ancestry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passing difficulty" to describe a challenge that is expected to be temporary and not significantly impactful. It's suitable for situations where the problem is a minor and transient disruption.

Common error

Avoid using "passing difficulty" for situations that are major or long-lasting. This phrase is best reserved for describing minor, short-term inconveniences; otherwise, use stronger terms like "major obstacle" or "long-term challenge".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing difficulty" functions as a noun phrase, describing a challenge or problem. As evidenced by Ludwig, it characterizes a situation that is temporary or transient. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "passing difficulty" is a grammatically correct way to describe a temporary or minor challenge. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its usage is relatively rare. It's best suited for situations where the difficulty is short-lived and not significantly impactful. Alternatives like "temporary setback" or "minor inconvenience" can be used depending on the specific context. Remember to reserve it for issues that are genuinely minor to avoid overstating the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

temporary setback

Replaces "difficulty" with "setback", emphasizing the temporary nature of the problem.

minor inconvenience

Substitutes "difficulty" with "inconvenience", downplaying the severity of the issue.

fleeting challenge

Replaces "passing" with "fleeting", highlighting the brief duration of the challenge.

short-term struggle

Emphasizes the temporary aspect by using "short-term" and replaces "difficulty" with "struggle".

brief obstacle

Uses "obstacle" instead of "difficulty", framing it as a hurdle to overcome.

transient hardship

Replaces both words, focusing on the temporary and challenging nature of the experience.

momentary problem

Highlights the brief nature of the issue using "momentary" instead of "passing".

temporary adversity

Replaces "difficulty" with "adversity", suggesting a more challenging but still temporary situation.

slight tribulation

Replaces both words with synonyms indicating a minor and temporary hardship.

short-lived issue

Focuses on the brief existence of the problem using different vocabulary.

FAQs

What does "passing difficulty" mean?

The phrase "passing difficulty" refers to a temporary or short-lived challenge or problem. It suggests that the issue is not expected to persist for a long time.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "passing difficulty"?

Use "passing difficulty" when you want to describe a minor problem that is not expected to have a lasting impact. It's suitable for describing temporary setbacks or inconveniences.

What can I say instead of "passing difficulty"?

You can use alternatives like "temporary setback", "minor inconvenience", or "fleeting challenge", depending on the specific context.

Is "passing difficulty" formal or informal?

The phrase "passing difficulty" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it might be more common in news or general writing than in highly technical or academic papers.