tricky to watch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tricky to watch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to observe or follow, often due to complexity or confusion. Example: "The plot of the movie was so convoluted that it was tricky to watch without getting lost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

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

The Guardian - Sport

The minute DiCaprio's voiceover comes in, it's kind of tricky to watch the trailer and not imagine him just playing a character who is concerned about climate change, but it's nice to know the guy is following up on the stuff he took a stand for at the Oscars earlier this year.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

So it's potentially tricky for Houdini, one to watch.

The Guardian

Now it gets a little trickier if you want to watch from a mobile device.

TechCrunch

The invading army in a remake of "Red Dawn", an American film, was changed from Chinese to North Korean in post-production.But making a film that Chinese and Western audiences both want to watch is tricky.

The Economist

Though the action tends to plod in the more serious moments — as in Doyle's scenes with his sick wife (Louise Delamere) or when some deep point wants to get made — and though the mysteries themselves are not especially tricky, it is easy enough to watch.

Los Angeles Times

The horse he had come to watch, a gelding named Tricky Hat, was the third horse he was racing that weekend.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile our rugby league scribe Andy Wilson is eagerly looking forward to the start of the NRL season from Down Under, even if finding a way to watch it might be tricky.

The Guardian - Sport

As the details of her creation myth unfold -- the basketball pedigree, the triumphs over adversity -- you can almost hear the prayers in the offices over on Fifth Avenue beseeching an entity even more powerful than David Stern to watch over a certain tricky A.C.L. Perhaps the closest the league has yet come to bottling some lightning was the 2002 All-Star game in Washington.

The New York Times - Magazine

She was the first racer on the course, which deprived her of the chance to watch others negotiate the trickier parts of the course.

The New York Times - Sports

It's fun to watch her get caught in some tricky situations and have to talk her way out of them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tricky to watch", ensure the context clearly explains why it's difficult to observe. Is it the complexity of the plot, the emotional weight, or some other factor?

Common error

Avoid using "tricky to watch" when the issue is simply disinterest. "Tricky" implies a challenge in understanding or following, not a lack of engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tricky to watch" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied noun (e.g., "something"). It describes the quality of being difficult or complicated to observe or understand. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tricky to watch" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, albeit relatively rare. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something that presents a cognitive challenge to the viewer, making it difficult to follow or understand. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for a range of applications. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates why something is difficult to watch, differentiating it from simple disinterest or emotional discomfort. Alternatives like "difficult to view" or "hard to follow" may be more appropriate depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to view

Replaces "tricky" with "difficult" maintaining a focus on the challenge presented to the observer.

hard to follow

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding or keeping up with the content.

challenging to observe

Uses "challenging" to highlight the effort required in the act of observing.

complicated to look at

Highlights the complex nature of the content making it demanding to look at.

awkward to watch

Focuses on the uncomfortable or uneasy feeling experienced while viewing.

uncomfortable to view

Similar to 'awkward to watch', but focuses specifically on discomfort.

problematic to observe

Indicates that there are issues or problems associated with watching something.

demanding to view

Emphasizes the high level of attention or effort required from the viewer.

not easy to watch

Simplifies the phrase to convey the difficulty in a more straightforward manner.

difficult to make sense of

Highlights the incomprehensibility of what is being observed.

FAQs

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

You can use "tricky to watch" to describe something that is difficult to follow or observe. For example, "The plot of the movie was so convoluted that it was "tricky to watch" without getting lost".

What's a good alternative to "tricky to watch"?

Alternatives include "difficult to view", "hard to follow", or "challenging to observe", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "tricky to watch" grammatically correct?

Yes, "tricky to watch" is grammatically correct and follows standard English sentence structure. It's a common way to describe something that is difficult to observe or understand.

When should I use "difficult to watch" instead of "tricky to watch"?

Difficult to watch often emphasizes the emotional burden of viewing something, while "tricky to watch" focuses on the cognitive challenge of understanding or following it. Choose the phrase that best reflects the primary reason for the difficulty.