a devil of a job

a devil of a job

A difficult or frustrating time; much difficulty. I'm having a devil of a job getting this window open—I think it has been painted shut. We had a devil of a job convincing Grandpa to go to the doctor for that bad cough.
See also: devil, job, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

devil of a job

 and devil's own job
the most difficult task. We had a devil of a job fixing the car. It was the devil's own job finding a hotel with vacancies.
See also: devil, job, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a devil of a job

or

the devil's own job

If you have a devil of a job or the devil's own job to do something, it is very difficult to do. We had a devil of a job finding you in that place. Michael was having the devil's own job to make himself heard next to the roadworks.
See also: devil, job, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a (or the) devil of a —

something very large or bad of its kind. informal
1919 Katherine Mansfield Letter We had the devil of a great storm last night, lasting for hours, thunder, lightning, rain & I had appalling nightmares!
See also: devil, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a/the ˈdevil of a job, nuisance, fellow, etc.

(old-fashioned) a difficult or an unpleasant example of something: We’re going to have a devil of a job getting the roots of that tree out of the ground.
See also: devil, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a devil of a
  • a/the devil of a job, nuisance, fellow, etc.
  • devil of a job
  • devil of a time
  • a devil of a time
  • devil of a
  • the devil of a time
  • what (in) the devil
  • devil
  • the devil incarnate