The phrase "tough beginning" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a difficult or challenging start to a situation or endeavor. For example, "He was faced with a tough beginning when he first started his business, but now it has become a successful company."
"It was a tough beginning," he said.
Purchased to replace the departed Steve Bruce, O'Neill faced a tough beginning against the Crazy Gang of Wimbledon at Plough Lane.
There were discussions around whether it glamorised sexual violence against women through its nuanced portrayal of Paul – a highly intelligent man with a tough beginning, who seemingly loves his children and tries to help others through grief – and the art-directed gloss of his murder scenes.
"It was a tough beginning," says Raymond, now 35.
It's a fairly tough beginning for his full-time role," he said.
"We have a young team and I know it might be a tough beginning to the season, but I am sure we are going the right way.
The cast, elastic but never tough, began on the floor, rolling, rising halfway and falling again, as if being weighed down by gravity.
As the weather gets colder and the schedule gets tougher — beginning Sunday in New England — the Giants know it is not enough.
Although this first novel won't be enshrined in the Grauman's of literature, Hollowell demonstrates talent and courage, taking on a town that's as tough for beginning novelists as it is for aspiring actresses.
"Smithsonian officials should either acknowledge the mistake and correct it, or be prepared to face tough scrutiny beginning in January when the new majority in the House moves [in]," Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith said.
Mr. Poland, chairman of Degenkolb Engineers of San Francisco, and others said that it appeared that most of the buildings that were destroyed in the 6.3-magnitude quake, which struck at midday Tuesday, were older ones built before the country's building codes were made tougher beginning in the 1980s.
