tricky to match

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tricky to match" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that is difficult to align or correspond with another item or standard. Example: "Finding the right color for the paint was tricky to match with the existing furniture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is tricky to match the forthright Allsopp of Location Location Location, always charging into properties and picking out some poor wall for demolition, to the pompom-, haberdashery-loving contentoman contont to select cushions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sylvia Anderson explained how the two crews faced different challenges: "[Bell] had limitations imposed on him by a very strict series budget ... it was more tricky to match the interior with an equally complicated puppet set.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a tricky wine to match with food, but some producers say they are trying.

The New York Times - Food

"It was a tricky process because of the pressure of trying to match as best you can, almost brick for brick," said Paul Sutton of Lancashire Brick & Tile.

BBC

Finding the right color of powder to match your skin color is sometimes tricky.

WikiHow

Objectives appear on a map, but trying to match that with the 2D view is tricky.

The Guardian - Tech

Tricky question; an apartment in the West Village is hard to match.

The New Yorker

The rules are so similar that being asked to match each definition with each faith tradition is tricky.

Huffington Post

It is pretty easy to match denim and one color, but it gets kind of tricky when it comes to multicolored.

WikiHow

It's just that it's tricky to watch two matches on two different continents simultaneously.

The Guardian - Sport

In La Liga, Real have won their last two games and reduced the gap behind leaders Barcelona to four points but face a tricky away match against Villarreal on Sunday.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tricky to match", ensure that the context clearly indicates what items or concepts are being compared and why finding a correspondence is difficult.

Common error

Avoid using "tricky to match" in situations where a simple or obvious solution exists. Reserve it for scenarios involving genuine complexity or nuance in finding a suitable match or alignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tricky to match" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. It describes a situation or task that presents a subtle or nuanced challenge in finding a suitable correspondence or alignment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tricky to match" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating a subtle challenge in finding a suitable match or alignment. While not extremely common, as shown by Ludwig, it finds usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media and Wiki-based sources. It is best used when describing situations where the difficulty lies not just in the general challenge, but in the nuanced considerations needed for a precise correspondence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is suitable for use in written English. Alternatives include "difficult to align" or "hard to correspond", each offering a slightly different emphasis on the nature of the matching challenge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to align

Replaces "tricky" with "difficult" and "match" with "align", focusing on the alignment aspect.

hard to correspond

Substitutes "tricky" with "hard" and "match" with "correspond", emphasizing the need for equivalence.

challenging to reconcile

Uses "challenging" instead of "tricky" and "reconcile" instead of "match", highlighting the effort needed to harmonize conflicting elements.

not easy to coordinate

Emphasizes the lack of ease in coordinating two things, which is a broader way of expressing difficulty in matching.

presents matching challenges

Changes the structure to focus on the challenges inherent in the matching process.

poses an alignment problem

Focuses on the "alignment" aspect of matching, framing it as a problem.

requires careful harmonization

Highlights the need for a delicate and precise approach to achieve a match.

demands precise correspondence

Emphasizes the need for exacting equivalence between the items being matched.

is a delicate balancing act

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey the difficulty in achieving a match between disparate elements.

is a knotty coordination task

Uses the word "knotty" to describe the difficulty of the task, and uses synonym "coordination" for matching.

FAQs

How can I use "tricky to match" in a sentence?

You can use "tricky to match" to describe situations where finding a suitable correspondence or alignment is difficult. For example, "It's "tricky to match" the paint color with the existing wall because of fading."

What's a good substitute for "tricky to match"?

Alternatives for "tricky to match" include "difficult to align", "hard to correspond", or "challenging to reconcile" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "tricky to match" or "difficult to match"?

Both "tricky to match" and "difficult to match" are acceptable. "Tricky" suggests a nuanced or subtle challenge, while "difficult" implies a more general level of challenge. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it best to use "tricky to match" instead of another phrase?

Use "tricky to match" when you want to emphasize a subtle difficulty in finding a suitable correspondence or alignment, where the challenge isn't just about general difficulty but also about the need for careful consideration and precision.