a tough/hard row to hoe

noun phrase

: something that is difficult to do or deal with

I am considering becoming a doctor, but I know that it's a tough row to hoe.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Opener Gordie Brown had a tough row to hoe, with an audience eager for the main event. —Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023

The new director of the nation's top public health institute is looking at a tough row to hoe. —Star Tribune, 14 Feb. 2021