the tricky ones

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the tricky ones" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items, tasks, or situations that are difficult or challenging in some way. Example: "When solving the math problems, I found the tricky ones to be the most rewarding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The tricky ones generally are.

Independent

The splits are the tricky ones.

The New York Times

"It's the assurances we can't give that are the tricky ones.

The Guardian - Business

Most of the time, let's face it, it's adults who are the tricky ones.

The Guardian

"The tricky ones are clients that come and say, 'I want a big boat with a big saloon and a very big TV', and they're almost not interested in the rest," said Freivokh, who designed the £90m, 88-metre, three-mast Maltese Falcon owned by hedge fund billionaire Elena Ambrosiadou.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As anyone with a passing knowledge of rugby league would tell you, the building blocks of successful rugby league are called "sets", and teams "complete" these "sets" by holding onto the ball and crashing their way upfield with a combination of mobile giants bashing it up before the tricky ones do their thing in the latter stretches of the six-tackle count.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

If you paint the right hand before the left hand, you won't have to worry about smudging both on the tricky one!

WikiHow

The next step is going to be the tricky one.

The Guardian - Books

The tricky one would be Brazil in the semis.

The Guardian - Sport

In your Hear'Say days you were labelled as the tricky one, the bitchy one..

The Guardian

The tricky one is 5. Suppose you're combining five squares to form a single square with side length 1 unit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the tricky ones" when referring to specific items, tasks, or situations that are known to be more difficult or challenging than others within a set.

Common error

While "the tricky ones" is acceptable, it may sound too informal for academic or professional writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "the challenging cases" or "the complex issues" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the tricky ones" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a subset of items, tasks, or individuals that are considered more difficult or challenging compared to others in the same category. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of this phrase in general English writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the tricky ones" is a noun phrase used to denote items or tasks that present more difficulty or complexity compared to others. Ludwig AI deems this phrase usable in written English. While grammatically correct and generally acceptable, its register is somewhat neutral and may not be ideal for highly formal or academic contexts. More sophisticated alternatives like "the challenging aspects" or "the intricate components" might be preferable in those settings. Usage is most frequent in News & Media, as confirmed by the examples provided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the difficult ones

Replaces "tricky" with a more straightforward synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

the challenging ones

Substitutes "tricky" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the items being referred to.

the complicated ones

Uses "complicated" instead of "tricky", highlighting the complexity involved.

the problematic ones

Replaces "tricky" with "problematic", suggesting that the items pose difficulties or issues.

the intricate ones

Substitutes "tricky" with "intricate", focusing on the detailed and complex nature of the items.

those that are difficult

Rephrases the idea to focus on the difficulty, changing the sentence structure.

those presenting a challenge

Shifts the focus to the challenge involved, altering the grammatical structure.

the knotty ones

Uses the more figurative "knotty" to describe the items as complex and difficult to untangle.

the thorny ones

Uses the figurative "thorny" implying the items are full of difficulties and potential problems.

the complex cases

Changes "ones" to "cases" framing the items as instances or situations demanding careful attention.

FAQs

How can I use "the tricky ones" in a sentence?

You can use "the tricky ones" to refer to tasks, problems, or items that are difficult or complex. For example, "When solving the math problems, "the tricky ones" required extra attention."

What are some alternatives to "the tricky ones"?

Alternatives include "the difficult ones", "the challenging ones", or "the complex ones". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "the tricky ones" too informal for academic writing?

In some cases, yes. For academic or formal writing, consider using more sophisticated vocabulary like "the intricate issues" or "the complex challenges".

What makes something "one of the tricky ones"?

It implies that, among a group of similar things, this particular one is more difficult, complex, or requires more skill to handle.