The idiom "tough sledding" means that something is difficult or challenging. It is often used to describe a situation where someone is facing obstacles or difficulties in achieving their goals.
The phrase comes from the literal meaning of sledding, which involves pulling a sled through snow or ice. When the snow or ice is hard and compacted, it can be difficult to pull the sled, making the journey more challenging.
For example, you might say "I'm having a tough time with this project, it's been tough sledding trying to get everything done on time." Or "The team had a tough time in the playoffs, it was tough sledding against such strong opponents."
In short, "tough sledding" is a way to describe a difficult situation or challenge that requires extra effort and perseverance to overcome.
• Writing a novel is tough sledding, but the feeling of accomplishment is worth it.
• Learning a new language can be tough sledding, but it's worth it in the end.
• The negotiations with the union have been tough sledding, but we are making progress.
• Finding a job in this market can be tough sledding, but networking can help.
• This math problem is tough sledding for me.
• The team has had tough sledding this season, but they are still working hard to improve.