tough practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a challenging or demanding training session, often in the context of sports or skill development. Example: "The team had a tough practice today, pushing their limits to prepare for the upcoming match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The Rangers will probably have a tough practice Wednesday.

The New York Times - Sports

This is a tough practice to enjoin, because human beings happen to be obsessed with real-time data.

The New Yorker

And despite today's tough practice, Newman said: "You're not going to have those things in 24 hours.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was the first tough practice that I kind of struggled through and I'm in great shape," Gill said.

The New York Times - Sports

It is unclear why the decision and the Justice Department's announcement came on the same day, but together they appear to reflect agreement with some of the widespread criticism of the tough practice of compelling companies to waive rights and turn against employees.

The New York Times

It has demonstrated in tough practice that it is possible to make accurate, unbiased statistical prognoses of the factual project cost or other important key figures.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"He built C.A. from scratch through some very tough practices," Mr. Goodstadt said.

The New York Times

His knee-ligament injury has healed, and he said he did not think about it during Monday's tough practices.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's by design, but that's just because that's me," Groh said of his tough practices.

The New York Times - Sports

In his brief tenure as Flames head coach, he conducted tough practices and benched the disgruntled forward Valery Bure.

The New York Times - Sports

Scott passed on the chance to give his team an extended vacation, taking the floor for a light workout today, then giving them one day off on Sunday before they resume tough practices on Monday and Tuesday.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a training session, consider the specific aspect of difficulty you want to emphasize. "Tough practice" can refer to physical intensity, mental challenges, or strategic complexity.

Common error

Avoid using "tough practice" as a generic descriptor. Instead, specify what made the practice tough—for example, "a tough practice focusing on defensive drills"—to provide more meaningful information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough practice" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "tough" modifies the noun "practice". Ludwig AI indicates this combination is used to describe the nature of a training session, indicating it is challenging or demanding. The phrase fits well with the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tough practice" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a challenging training session. According to Ludwig AI, its primary function is to characterize a demanding training session, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, media, and sports. While the phrase is common, especially in news and media sources, it's important to provide specific context about what makes the practice tough to avoid vagueness. Related alternatives include "rigorous training" and "demanding session", which offer similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rigorous training

Replaces 'tough' with 'rigorous' and 'practice' with 'training', implying a strict and demanding training regime.

demanding session

Uses 'demanding' to convey the difficulty and 'session' as a broader term for practice.

challenging workout

Substitutes 'tough' with 'challenging' and 'practice' with 'workout', implying a physically strenuous session.

intense drill

Replaces 'tough' with 'intense' and 'practice' with 'drill', focusing on repetition and high effort.

arduous exercise

Uses 'arduous' to emphasize the difficulty and 'exercise' as a general term for training.

strenuous rehearsal

Replaces 'tough' with 'strenuous' and 'practice' with 'rehearsal', suitable for performance-related training.

grueling regimen

Substitutes both words to convey an exhaustive and harsh training plan.

severe discipline

Focuses on the strict and uncompromising nature of the training.

testing routine

Emphasizes the element of assessment and pushing limits.

difficult preparation

Highlights the overall complexity and hardship involved in getting ready.

FAQs

What does "tough practice" mean?

The phrase "tough practice" refers to a training session or rehearsal that is challenging, demanding, or strenuous. It implies a high level of effort and difficulty.

What can I say instead of "tough practice"?

You can use alternatives like "rigorous training", "demanding session", or "challenging workout" depending on the context.

How can I use "tough practice" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team had a "tough practice" today to prepare for the championship game" or "The actors went through a "tough practice" to perfect their performance".

Is "tough practice" formal or informal?

The phrase "tough practice" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.