tough to rationalize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tough to rationalize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or decision that is difficult to explain or justify logically. Example: "The team's decision to change the project direction was tough to rationalize, given the previous commitments made to stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And if we win this game, it's going to be very tough to rationalize not taking us.

The New York Times - Sports

Honestly, for a company that's never shied away from potentially flooding the market with a million different devices in the same category, it's tough to rationalize the fact that the company didn't release the Sport SKU alongside the original S3 (which already came in two different configurations).

TechCrunch

Coal-burning furnaces and polluted groundwater are creating entire cancer villages but… OK, this one is a little tough to rationalize, but let's go with the most popular justification: Villages with increased incidences of cancer are regrettable, but these sacrifices are necessary for the sake of continued economic development.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Within Alcatel-Lucent, there is resistance to making the tough decisions to rationalize the business because each side is protecting its own turf".

The New York Times

Johann Günther, a former member of the board of Alcatel Austria, said in November, when Alcatel-Lucent announced one of several rounds of job cuts, that "there is resistance to making the tough decisions to rationalize the business because each side is protecting its own turf".

The New York Times

'Rational selection' proposes to rationalize therapeutic choices.

Health Policy and Planning

They fell victim to group think, or worse, they started to rationalize their own bad projects.

TechCrunch

It's tough to come up with new ideas when spending cuts are forcing the industry to rationalize half of itself out of existence.

Forbes

I tried to rationalize.

The New York Times

Then the fans began to rationalize.

The New York Times

They have to rationalize this system".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tough to rationalize" when you want to express that something is difficult to justify or explain logically, especially when facing resistance or skepticism.

Common error

Avoid using "tough to rationalize" in contexts where simpler phrases like "hard to explain" or "difficult to understand" would suffice. The phrase is best suited for situations involving complex reasoning or justification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tough to rationalize" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a noun or situation. It describes the difficulty in providing a logical explanation or justification. As per Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tough to rationalize" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that conveys the difficulty in justifying or explaining something logically. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for written English and finds its primary use in news and media contexts. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and appropriate. Remember to employ this phrase when you specifically want to emphasize the challenge of providing a valid rationale, and be mindful of simpler alternatives for less complex situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to justify

Focuses on the difficulty in providing a valid justification.

difficult to explain

Emphasizes the struggle to make something understandable.

challenging to defend

Highlights the problem of defending a particular stance or decision.

not easily justified

Implies that justification requires significant effort or is unlikely to succeed.

hard to make sense of

Centers around the difficulty in understanding or finding logical meaning.

difficult to accept

Highlights the struggle of accepting or acknowledging a particular stance or decision.

unconvincing

Focuses on the lack of persuasiveness or believability.

not easily supported

Highlights the problem of the lack of evidence or justification to support a particular stance or decision.

beyond justification

Highlights the idea that something cannot be justified.

problematic to validate

Emphasizes the difficulty in confirming the accuracy or legitimacy.

FAQs

What does "tough to rationalize" mean?

The phrase "tough to rationalize" means that something is difficult to justify or explain logically. It implies a challenge in finding a reasonable or acceptable explanation for a situation, decision, or behavior.

When is it appropriate to use "tough to rationalize" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "tough to rationalize" when you need to express that a situation or decision is hard to justify, especially when facing scrutiny or opposition. Simpler alternatives might be better if the context doesn't imply a need for formal justification.

What are some alternatives to "tough to rationalize"?

Alternatives to "tough to rationalize" include "hard to justify", "difficult to explain", or "challenging to defend". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "tough to rationalize" grammatically correct?

Yes, "tough to rationalize" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English grammar rules and is used in various contexts, as evidenced by its appearance in publications like The New York Times and TechCrunch.