tough struggle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough struggle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a difficult or challenging situation that someone is facing or has faced. Example: "After months of hard work and perseverance, she finally overcame the tough struggle of starting her own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

But it's going to be a tough struggle".

The Guardian

"It's been a very tough struggle for Lanai for the past five years".

The New York Times

Mr Schröder will have a tough struggle turning his plans into law.

The Economist

It was a tough struggle in which business disputes were commonly resolved by violence and murder.

The New Yorker

The Australian is now anticipating a tough struggle with 13th seed Grosjean on Centre Court tomorrow.

The Guardian - Sport

The game between Zhang Zhong and Vladimir Kosyrev, 20, an untitled Russian, was a tough struggle.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"For me, it was tough struggling offensively, but I thought I did other things to keep us in the game," said Francis, who scored 17 points.

The New York Times - Sports

Private enterprises have been created under the economic reform and have experienced very tough struggles.

Forbes

But statistical evidence suggests that today's new arrivals have a tougher struggle to live well, or even adequately, compared with their counterparts of just a decade ago.

The New York Times

But a perhaps tougher struggle confronts Chinese film executives who dream of making movies that will be seen not just at home, but also by a measurable number of viewers in the United States and elsewhere.

The New York Times

It pushed for Greece to get two more years to reach a big primary budget surplus (before interest payments).The IMF's toughest struggle has been to convince Germany and others that Greece cannot repay the money it owes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tough struggle", consider the context and choose synonyms like "difficult fight" or "uphill battle" to add nuance or specificity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "tough struggle". Vary your vocabulary by incorporating alternatives such as "arduous battle" or "major challenge" to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough struggle" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "tough" modifies the noun "struggle". It describes a challenging or difficult situation, event, or undertaking. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tough struggle" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a challenging situation or event. As supported by Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in news and media to convey difficulty and effort. While suitable for various contexts, consider more formal alternatives like "arduous battle" in academic or professional writing. To prevent redundancy, diversify your vocabulary by using synonyms such as "difficult fight" or "major challenge".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard battle

A more straightforward synonym, emphasizing the difficulty.

uphill battle

Conveys the sense of a continuous and difficult effort against opposition.

difficult fight

Emphasizes the competitive or combative nature of the challenge.

major challenge

Focuses on the significance and scale of the difficulty.

arduous battle

Highlights the demanding and exhausting nature of the challenge.

formidable task

Highlights the size and complexity of the challenge.

demanding endeavor

Shifts the focus to the effort and commitment required.

challenging situation

Generalizes the phrase to describe any difficult circumstance.

grueling ordeal

Emphasizes the unpleasant and prolonged nature of the challenge.

difficult time

Simplifies the phrase to indicate a period of hardship.

FAQs

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

You can use "tough struggle" to describe any situation involving significant difficulty and effort, such as "The company faced a "tough struggle" to stay afloat during the recession".

What are some alternatives to "tough struggle"?

Alternatives include "difficult fight", "hard battle", or "major challenge", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "tough struggle" a formal or informal expression?

"Tough struggle" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "arduous battle" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What makes "tough struggle" different from "difficult time"?

"Tough struggle" implies a more active and prolonged effort to overcome adversity, whereas "difficult time" simply refers to a period of hardship without necessarily implying a fight or effort.