long row to hoe: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘long row to hoe’ mean?
The idiom "long row to hoe" means having a difficult or challenging task ahead that requires a lot of effort and perseverance.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "rough trot" refers to a difficult or challenging period of time or situation. It conveys the idea of facing hardships or experiencing a series of problems.
The idiom "rough sledding" means to undergo a difficult or challenging time or situation.
The idiom *rough patch* refers to a difficult or challenging period of time in someone's life or a situation. It implies that things are not going well and there are obstacles or problems to overcome.
The idiom "rise to the challenge" means to confront and overcome a difficult situation or task with determination, resilience, and success.
The idiom "push water uphill" means attempting to do something that is extremely difficult or impossible to achieve. It implies a futile or pointless effort that goes against the natural flow or logic of a situation.
The idiom "pull the long bow" means to exaggerate or stretch the truth when telling a story or giving information.
The idiom "pull teeth" means a difficult or challenging task, often involving persuading or extracting information from someone who is uncooperative or reluctant.
The idiom "press on" means to continue or persevere, despite difficulties or obstacles. It implies determination and the refusal to give up. It can be used to encourage someone to keep going, even when faced with challenges.
The idiom *plow the sands* means to waste time or effort on a pointless task or pursue a goal that is impossible to achieve, due to the futility of plowing sand. It implies a lack of productivity and provides a visual comparison to emphasize the futility.
Meaning: To continue doing something without paying attention to obstacles or difficulties.
Enduring Struggles
The idiom "long haul" is closely related to the phrase "long row to hoe." Both expressions convey the idea of a task or journey that requires endurance, persistence, and a significant amount of effort to complete.
When we talk about a "long haul," we are referring to a task or project that will take a substantial amount of time or effort to finish. This could be a project at work, a personal goal, or any challenging endeavor that requires perseverance and dedication. Just like hoeing a long row in a field, a "long haul" task requires stamina and the ability to keep going even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
In comparison, the expression "make heavy going of" is used to describe someone who is struggling or finding a task difficult. It suggests that the individual is having a hard time making progress or achieving their desired outcome. This phrase can be used to describe someone facing a particularly challenging task within a larger project or when things aren't going as smoothly as anticipated. Similar to hoeing a long row, making heavy going of a task requires extra effort and the willingness to push through difficulties.
Similarly, the expression "make hard work of" is used in a similar context to describe someone who is finding a task more challenging than necessary or making it more difficult for themselves. It implies that the individual is not approaching the task efficiently or effectively and is perhaps overcomplicating things. Just like hoeing a long row, making hard work of a task means putting in more effort and energy than is required, potentially making the process longer and more arduous than it needs to be.
Both the idioms "long haul" and "make heavy going of" share a common theme with the expression "long row to hoe." They all emphasize the idea that certain tasks or journeys require a considerable amount of effort and perseverance to complete successfully. Whether it's a long-term project, a challenging task within a larger goal, or simply making a task more difficult than necessary, these idioms highlight the importance of determination, hard work, and endurance in overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
Example usage
Here are three examples of how the idiom "long row to hoe" can be used in a sentence:
- After losing their star player, the basketball team knew they had a long row to hoe if they wanted to win the championship.
- Starting a business from scratch is not easy, and entrepreneurs have a long row to hoe before they can achieve success.
- When faced with a difficult project at work, Jane rolled up her sleeves and tackled it head-on, knowing it would be a long row to hoe.
More "Metaphorical" idioms
