be hard put to (do something)

be hard put to (do something)

To be struggling to do or accomplish something, especially because it seems impossible. You'll be hard put to find a better guy than Bill. Come on—if we don't leave soon, we'll be hard put to get there on time.
See also: hard, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hard put, be

Find something very difficult, as in The show was so bad that I was hard put to conceal my dismay, or Manufacturers will be hard put to meet the new standards. [c. 1700]
See also: hard
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be hard put (to it) to

find it very difficult to.
2001 Marc Blake 24 Karat Schmooze He wore an Armani suit with a navy shirt, a club tie (although the vintners would have been hard put to name the actual club) and a Freemasonry pin.
See also: hard, put
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • group
  • a committee is a group of men who keep minutes and waste hours
  • pass with flying colors
  • pass with flying colours
  • with flying colors, pass with
  • come through (something) with flying colors
  • coming through
  • come through
  • get (something) over with
  • get it over with