Idioms about Hardships and Challenges

Life isn’t always smooth sailing (easy and without troubles)—we all face tough times and obstacles. In English, there are plenty of colorful idioms to talk about these struggles. Here’s a handy list of idioms related to hardships and challenges, along with examples to show how to use them naturally.

​1. Against all odds
​Meaning: Despite very low chances of success

• She survived the fall from the cliff-face against all odds.
• Against all odds, the tiny startup managed to compete with giant companies.

 2. At your wits’ end
Meaning: Extremely worried, confused, or frustrated about what to do next

• I was at my wits’ end when the internet went down right before my online class.
• She’s at her wits’ end trying to find a way to pay for her tuition and school expenses.

3. Between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Forced to choose between two equally unpleasant options

• I was between a rock and a hard place—either quit my job or move to another city.
• He felt caught between a rock and a hard place when his  two business partners had a major disagreement. ​

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4. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation, or to be brave when you have to do something you don’t want to but have to 

• I didn’t want to relocate to another country, but I had to bite the bullet and do it.
• The company had to bite the bullet and lay off some employees to survive.

5. To take it on the chin
Meaning: To accept difficulties, criticism, or failure without complaining

• She took it on the chin when her idea was rejected.
• You just have to take it on the chin and keep moving forward.

6. To weather the storm
Meaning: To endure a difficult period and survive it

• The small cake shop managed to weather the storm during the pandemic.
• Our friendship has weathered many storms over the years.

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7. Go through hell and high water
Meaning: To face many difficulties or challenges

• She went through hell and high water to finish her degree.
• We had to go through hell and high water just to get the project approved.

8. In deep water
Meaning: In serious trouble or facing a difficult situation

• She’s in deep water after missing several important deadlines.
• I knew I was in deep water when I realized I’d lost my passport abroad.

9. An uphill battle
Meaning: A very difficult task that requires a lot of effort to succeed

• Convincing the board to approve the plan was an uphill battle.
• Learning English grammar can feel like an uphill battle for many learners.

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10. Trial by fire
Meaning: A difficult experience that tests someone’s courage, skill or ability 

• My first teaching job was a real trial by fire—I had more than 60 students in one class.
• Becoming a parent is often described as a trial by fire.

11. Cross that bridge when you come to it
Meaning: To deal with a problem only when it happens

• Don’t worry about the exam now; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
• I’m not sure if I have enough money for the repairs, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

12. Put through the wringer
Meaning: To go through a very tough or exhausting experience. A wringer is an old piece of equipment used in old-fashioned washing machines. It had two rollers that you turned by hand to squeeze out water from wet clothes. Imagine being put through the wringer in the same way the rollers squeezed wet laundry.

• Job seekers are often put through the wringer during multiple interviews.
• That exam really put me through the wringer.

​Idioms like these are fixed expressions, which means the words usually don’t change. To use them naturally and accurately, it’s best to read and hear them in context many times—and then try using them yourself in speaking or writing. The more you practice with them, the more accurate your usage will be.