briar patch
noun
plural briar patches
1
: an area in which briars (see briar entry 1 sense 1) are growing
… the cottontail was sitting comfortably on a stump right in the middle of a briar patch …—
Cook's Illustrated
Cook's Illustrated2
: a troublesome or difficult situation or experience
The culling of bison at Yellowstone, while legal, has been a briar patch of controversy for more than two decades.—Jim Robbins
Jim Robbins… he shows how Elvis made his way through this cultural briar patch …—Margo Jefferson
Margo JeffersonExamples of briar patch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of a briar patch, guests are now taken through the Louisiana bayou, to help Louis the alligator find a band to play during a big Mardi Gras celebration thrown by Tiana — which is shown in all its glory at the very end of the attraction.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Is Comcast and the cable network world ready to jump into this briar patch?
—Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The previously orange, rocky mountain covered in briar patches has been transformed into a lush interpretation of the Louisiana bayou, complete with colorful flowers and fireflies.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2024
But the journey into the briar patch has been replaced with one through the magical landscape of the bayou at night, populated by familiar faces and new critters, and accompanied by raucous tunes from the movie and new original music.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024
Doing so also raises a briar patch of thorny ethical concerns.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 31 May 2024
Their adventures in my backyard included picking raspberries from the overgrown briar patch to make coulis for their cheesecake and gossiping about Barbie’s poor taste in satin jumpsuits.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 July 2023
Guests will have their final chance to plunge a five-story drop through a briar patch on May 30, giving Disneyland attendees one last busy Memorial Day weekend to experience the attraction in its current form.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2023
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Esther Kang, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Is Comcast and the cable network world ready to jump into this briar patch?
—Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The previously orange, rocky mountain covered in briar patches has been transformed into a lush interpretation of the Louisiana bayou, complete with colorful flowers and fireflies.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2024
But the journey into the briar patch has been replaced with one through the magical landscape of the bayou at night, populated by familiar faces and new critters, and accompanied by raucous tunes from the movie and new original music.
—Staff Author, Peoplemag, 12 June 2024
Doing so also raises a briar patch of thorny ethical concerns.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 31 May 2024
Their adventures in my backyard included picking raspberries from the overgrown briar patch to make coulis for their cheesecake and gossiping about Barbie’s poor taste in satin jumpsuits.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 July 2023
Guests will have their final chance to plunge a five-story drop through a briar patch on May 30, giving Disneyland attendees one last busy Memorial Day weekend to experience the attraction in its current form.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Briar patch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/briar%20patch. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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