Life is filled with ups and downs, and language reflects this journey through a variety of expressions that describe the tougher times. Whether it’s personal challenges, professional setbacks, or emotional struggles, certain phrases help us articulate these experiences. This post explores 20 expressions related to hardship, each offering a glimpse into the difficulties we face and the resilience we muster. These idiomatic expressions not only enrich our vocabulary but also offer solace by putting into words what we often feel during hard times.
Expressions Related to Hardship
1. Against the odds
Meaning: To succeed despite very low probability.
Example: She succeeded against the odds.
2. Back to the wall
Meaning: In a bad or desperate situation.
Example: With his back to the wall, he had to innovate.
3. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
Example: We burned the midnight oil to meet the deadline.
4. Carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders
Meaning: To feel extreme stress or pressure.
Example: He’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
5. Climb a mountain
Meaning: To undertake a difficult task.
Example: Completing this project is like climbing a mountain.
6. Come hell or high water
Meaning: No matter what happens or how difficult it becomes.
Example: I’ll be there, come hell or high water.
7. Down and out
Meaning: Without money, luck, or opportunities.
Example: He felt down and out after losing his job.
8. Fight an uphill battle
Meaning: To try to achieve something that is very difficult.
Example: She’s fighting an uphill battle for justice.
9. Go through the mill
Meaning: To experience difficult or painful times.
Example: He really went through the mill last year.
10. In dire straits
Meaning: In a very serious or difficult situation.
Example: The company was in dire straits financially.
11. Keep the wolf from the door
Meaning: To have just enough money to avoid going hungry or falling into poverty.
Example: His new job helped keep the wolf from the door.
12. Make ends meet
Meaning: To barely have enough money to cover expenses.
Example: They’re just making ends meet with the current budget.
13. On thin ice
Meaning: In a risky or uncertain situation.
Example: He’s on thin ice with his supervisor.
14. Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: From a bad situation to one that is worse.
Example: Leaving that job turned out to be out of the frying pan into the fire.
15. Ride out the storm
Meaning: To survive through a difficult period.
Example: We just need to ride out the storm.
16. Rock the boat
Meaning: To cause trouble in a stable situation.
Example: He doesn’t want to rock the boat before the elections.
17. Sink or swim
Meaning: To fail or succeed entirely by one’s own efforts.
Example: It was a sink or swim moment in his career.
18. The last straw
Meaning: The final problem in a series of problems.
Example: That mistake was the last straw for the manager.
19. Weather the storm
Meaning: To withstand a difficult period.
Example: They managed to weather the storm of the financial crisis.
20. When push comes to shove
Meaning: When things get critical and action is needed.
Example: When push comes to shove, we’ll have to make tough decisions.
