when the going gets tough

phrase

: when it becomes difficult to continue or to make progress

What will you do when the going gets tough?

Examples of when the going gets tough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Be patient and hunt more slowly and cautiously when the going gets tough. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026

To prove especially to my children that life’s not over and when the going gets tough, the tough get going. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026

Be compassionate toward others, even when the going gets tough. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026

And while that might seem like a recipe for many staples names, P&G is premium-priced in many categories—and when the going gets tough, the tough start stocking up on Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST) white-label products instead. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 11 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for when the going gets tough

• buff
• cuff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff