heavy going
The idiom "heavy going" is often used to describe tasks or situations that are challenging and require significant effort.
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🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(informal)Requiring a lot of effort or endurance to complete or get through.
Example
- The novel was heavy going, and it took me weeks to finish.
- The project turned out to be heavy going, with numerous obstacles along the way.
B2Reading and Comprehension
(informal)Difficult to understand or follow due to complexity or density.
Example
- The technical manual was heavy going, filled with jargon and complex diagrams.
- Her thesis was heavy going, with intricate theories and dense writing.
C1Horse Racing
(technical)Conditions that are wet and muddy, making it difficult for horses to gallop.
Example
- The track was heavy going after the rain, slowing down all the horses.
- Jockeys had to navigate heavy going conditions during the race.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "heavy going":
hard goingheavy liftingheavy wetheavy liftweigh downbogged downhard outcarry weight