English

Alternative forms

• tough sledding
• rough sledding

Noun

hard sledding ‎(uncountable)

1. Difficulties, generally; a rough time.
   • 1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, 1992 Bantam edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 4:

     When things got so Wolfe had to cut down expenses […] , Saul Panzer and I got our weekly envelopes sliced, but [Fred] Durkin's was stopped altogether. Wolfe called him in when he was needed and paid him by the day, so I still saw him off and on and knew he was having hard sledding. […]

     "Hello, Fred do I owe you something?"

     […] "How are you, Mr. Wolfe. I wish to God you did. If there was anybody owed me anything I'd be with him like a saddle on a horse."