tough relationship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough relationship" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a relationship that is difficult or challenging, often due to conflicts or misunderstandings between the parties involved. Example: "Despite their love for each other, they often found themselves in a tough relationship filled with arguments and disagreements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But he had a tough relationship with faculty and staff that he never overcame".

The New York Times - Sports

When dealing with tough relationship conversations, he told me, recording is helpful.

The New Yorker

"When I started coaching her," McKeever recalls, "I just thought, Here's someone who's had a tough relationship with the sport, in the sense that it gave her a lot of things, and then her body turned on her.

The New Yorker

"That was a really tough relationship: Ant and Dec, the stars of the show, were like 'stick at it boys!' But the senior people at ITV? 'Nah, we don't like you'".

The Guardian - Tech

He gave a hint of the pressures he was under when he talked at the end about the "tough" relationship with the US.

BBC

The mother-daughter prison duo seem to have always had a tough relationship.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

He, too, had been through a series of tough relationships and was coming out of a painful divorce.

Huffington Post

However, as we were culling through images, we did notice that fathers are often harshly depicted in art; perhaps this has to do with the artists' tough relationships with their dads?

Huffington Post

Talk to your friends, talk to your parents, talk to older siblings or cousins who've been through tough relationships before.

WikiHow

Mr. Reid said that in 40 years of public service he had not had a tougher relationship.

The New York Times

"All across American industry, we have a much harder, tougher relationship," said Mr. Johnson, the New York pay consultant, adding that some executive salary negotiations now resemble talks with organized labor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "tough relationship", be specific about the challenges faced by the individuals involved. Provide context to enhance understanding.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that a relationship is "tough" without providing concrete examples of the issues or conflicts involved. Specific details are essential for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough relationship" functions as a noun phrase, where "tough" modifies the noun "relationship". Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tough relationship" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a relationship characterized by challenges and difficulties. As Ludwig AI points out, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to provide specific details about the nature of the difficulties to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives such as "difficult relationship" or "challenging relationship" can be used for slight variations in tone, and you can leverage the contexts provided by Ludwig to identify the best alternative depending on the purpose of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult relationship

Replaces "tough" with a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

challenging relationship

Substitutes "tough" with "challenging", emphasizing the demanding nature of the relationship.

strained relationship

Focuses on the tension and pressure within the relationship.

rocky relationship

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the instability and difficulty.

turbulent relationship

Highlights the chaotic and unstable nature of the relationship.

problematic relationship

Emphasizes the presence of issues and problems.

unhealthy relationship

Indicates a relationship that is damaging or detrimental to one or both parties.

complicated relationship

Suggests a high degree of complexity and difficulty in understanding or managing the relationship.

demanding relationship

Highlights the high level of effort and emotional energy required.

arduous relationship

Indicates a relationship that is very difficult and requires great effort.

FAQs

What does "tough relationship" mean?

A "tough relationship" describes a connection between people that is difficult, challenging, or marked by conflict and hardship.

What are some synonyms for "tough relationship"?

Alternatives include "difficult relationship", "challenging relationship", or "strained relationship", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do you use "tough relationship" in a sentence?

You can use "tough relationship" to describe various kinds of connections: "They had a "tough relationship" due to constant misunderstandings."

Is it better to say "difficult relationship" or "tough relationship"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "difficult relationship" might sound slightly more formal. "Tough relationship" is more common in everyday conversation.