rough times

USAGE SUMMARY

"rough times" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to talk about a period of hardship, difficulty, or challenging experiences in someone's life. For example, "We've been through some rough times, but we'll get through this together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those were rough times.

The New York Times

Wiels has seen some rough times.

The New York Times - Arts

"We had rough times," Mrs. Robson said.

The New York Times - Arts

"He gave her some rough times.

The New York Times

I've been through some rough times.

The New York Times - Sports

She has also had rough times.

The New York Times

And there will be rough times.

The Guardian - Film

These are rough times for little Normie".

The New Yorker

They were, says Ondaatje, "rough times".

The Guardian - Books

But they are pretty well equipped for these rough times.

The New York Times

Mitt Romney's been through some rough times in this election.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rough times", consider adding context to specify the nature of the hardship. For example, "rough times financially" or "rough times in their relationship".

Common error

While "rough times" effectively conveys hardship, avoid using it in situations where the difficulty is minor or easily resolved, as this can diminish its impact. Reserve it for genuinely challenging situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough times" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a preposition or verb, describing a period marked by adversity or difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used and understood in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

7%

Academia

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough times" is a common and easily understood phrase used to describe periods of hardship or difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness and usability in English. While its register is mostly neutral, favoring use in News & Media, Wiki and Formal & Business contexts, writers should consider more formal alternatives for academic or professional writing. To enhance clarity, adding context to the phrase is recommended. Be mindful of the potential for overuse in overly dramatic contexts, reserving it for situations that genuinely merit the description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard times

Synonymous, offering a direct substitution of "rough" with "hard".

difficult days

Directly replaces "times" with "days", keeping the adjective "difficult".

difficult period

Replaces "times" with a more general term, while "difficult" maintains a similar connotation to "rough".

a period of hardship

Replaces "rough" with the noun "hardship", indicating a state of suffering or privation.

challenging moments

Substitutes "times" with "moments" and "rough" with "challenging", softening the expression slightly.

turbulent times

Emphasizes the instability and disorder of the period.

tough experiences

Emphasizes personal experiences during a difficult period, using "tough" in place of "rough".

moments of crisis

Focuses on crisis situations within a larger timeframe of difficulty.

trying circumstances

Highlights the external conditions that make a period difficult.

a spell of adversity

A more formal expression indicating a period marked by misfortune.

FAQs

What does the phrase "rough times" mean?

The phrase "rough times" refers to a period of hardship, difficulty, or challenging experiences in someone's life or in a particular situation. It suggests a period marked by problems and struggles.

How can I use "rough times" in a sentence?

You can use "rough times" in a sentence to describe a difficult period, such as: "The company has been going through "challenging moments" due to the economic downturn." or "They helped each other through the "hard times" after the accident."

What are some synonyms for "rough times"?

Some synonyms for "rough times" include "difficult period", "hard times", "challenging moments", "tough experiences", and "turbulent times".

Is it appropriate to use "rough times" in formal writing?

While "rough times" is widely understood, in formal writing, consider using more precise or sophisticated alternatives like "a period of hardship" or "challenging circumstances" to maintain a professional tone. However, the appropriateness depends on the specific context and audience.