tough row to hoe{n. phr.} A hard life to live; a very hard job to do.
She has a hard row to hoe with six children and her husband dead.
Young people without enough education will have a tough row to hoe when they have to support themselves. Syn.: HARD SLEDDING. Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK, HARD NUT TO CRACK.
See: HARD ROW TO HOE.
[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲