tough timetable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough timetable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a schedule or plan that is demanding and requires a lot of work or effort. For example: "I have a tough timetable this semester, so I won't have much free time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Talks are to resume in Beijing in November, with administration officials saying they intend to present a tough timetable for dismantlement of the North's nuclear programs and for inspections of the work.

The New York Times

It is a tough timetable, but industry observers agree that if Airbus can stick to it, then the European aerospace giant could well steal a significant march on its US rival in the years ahead.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Although the court's timetable is tough, he thinks the $60m his company has lent Napster should make it possible for Napster to comply ahead of launching a legal, subscription-based service in July.

The Economist

The culture secretary, Maria Miller, will meet with victims on Friday, and on Tuesday she will hold a round table with editors of national newspapers and some proprietors to press them to draw up a timetable for a tougher self-regulatory model than the one they had proposed to Leveson.

The Guardian

They refuse to press the Iraqis to make tough choices, and they label any timetable to redeploy our troops surrender, even though we would be turning Iraq over to a sovereign Iraqi government, not to a terrorist enemy".

The New York Times

Spain announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget based mostly on spending cuts.

The New York Times

So far Mr Papandreou's approval ratings have held up, with more than 60% of Greeks accepting that tougher measures are needed.Fears loom over the timetable set in Brussels for implementing the new plans.

The Economist

"It's tough from where we are now, given the realities of the timetable," he said.

The Guardian

The short statements from Obama, Sarkozy and Brown had some tough words about sanctions, but they stuck to the currently agreed timetable of events.

The Guardian

In an update on the company's internal investigation Thursday, Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch told reporters that engineers came up with the scheme in 2005, when they were unable to hit tough US standards for nitrogen oxide emissions within their allotted budget and timetable.

Vice

Europeans assert that a greater "political horizon" must be provided for the Palestinians in terms of concrete terms and a timetable for a final status agreement, as an inducement to take tough measures to rein in militants.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tough timetable" to set expectations regarding the level of effort and commitment required for a task or project. This can help team members prepare adequately and manage their time effectively.

Common error

While "tough timetable" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overusing it in very informal conversations. In casual settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "busy schedule" or "packed schedule" to maintain a more relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough timetable" functions as a noun phrase where "tough" modifies "timetable". Ludwig AI indicates that it is used to describe a demanding or challenging schedule, emphasizing the difficulty of completing tasks within a given timeframe.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tough timetable" is a grammatically correct and understandable term used to describe a demanding or challenging schedule. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in news and media and formal business contexts, denoting plans that require significant effort and efficient execution. While it may be acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, be mindful of the tone and replace it with alternatives such as "demanding schedule" or "challenging schedule" in less formal settings. To ensure clarity and set realistic expectations, "tough timetable" is a smart choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demanding schedule

Replaces 'tough' with 'demanding', emphasizing the high requirements of the schedule.

challenging schedule

Substitutes 'tough' with 'challenging', highlighting the difficulty involved.

strict schedule

Changes 'tough' to 'strict', focusing on the adherence required by the timetable.

tight schedule

Replaces 'tough' with 'tight', indicating limited time or flexibility.

rigorous schedule

Uses 'rigorous' instead of 'tough', emphasizing thoroughness and demanding nature.

intensive schedule

Replaces 'tough' with 'intensive', indicating a concentrated and demanding period.

aggressive schedule

Substitutes 'tough' with 'aggressive', suggesting a very ambitious and challenging plan.

arduous timetable

Changes 'tough' to 'arduous', highlighting the strenuous and difficult nature of the timetable.

hectic timetable

Replaces 'tough' with 'hectic', focusing on the busy and chaotic aspect of the timetable.

demanding timeline

Switches 'timetable' to 'timeline' and 'tough' to 'demanding' emphasizing the stringent deadlines.

FAQs

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

You can say, "The project has a "tough timetable", so we need to work efficiently", or "The company has set a "tough timetable" for the product launch".

What are some alternatives to "tough timetable"?

Alternatives include "demanding schedule", "challenging schedule", or "strict schedule" depending on the context.

Is "tough timetable" formal or informal?

The phrase "tough timetable" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although alternatives may be more appropriate for casual conversation.

What does it mean to have a "tough timetable"?

Having a "tough timetable" means that the schedule is demanding and requires a lot of effort and focus to complete tasks within the specified time frame. It suggests that there is little room for error or delays.