heavy going

heavy going

Difficult, especially due to being tedious, boring, or unpleasant. Reading medieval literature is heavy going—I have to stop every few minutes to define a term I've never heard of.
See also: going, heavy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

heavy going

difficult to do, understand, or make progress with. Jim finds math heavy going. Talking to Mary is heavy going. She has nothing interesting to say.
See also: going, heavy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

heavy going

Also, heavy weather.
1. Difficult, as in Tom found calculus heavy going, or It's going to be heavy weather for us from here on. The first expression originally referred to a road or path that was hard to negotiate; the variant alludes to bad weather at sea. [Mid-1800s]
2. make heavy weather of. Make hard work or a fuss over something, especially unnecessarily. For example, They made heavy weather of the differences between their proposals, which actually seemed much alike . This use of weather likens a commotion to a storm. [Mid-1900s]
See also: going, heavy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

ˌheavy ˈgoing

boring, tiring, difficult, etc: I do find her novels very heavy going. The last part of the journey was rather heavy going because of the muddy paths.
The going is the condition of the ground, especially in horse racing.
See also: going, heavy
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • heavy weather
  • be heavy going
  • like pulling teeth
  • pull teeth
  • popsicle stand
  • get out of this taco stand
  • bust out of this popsicle stand
  • get out of this popsicle stand
  • bang away at (someone or something)
  • an old stick in the mud
References in periodicals archive
?Buckhorn Timothy will relish a slog in the mud at stiff Exeter 4.40 This brother to mudlark Buckhorn Tom shares his sibling's love of testing ground and followed his easy win over 2m11/2f at Fontwell in November with a close second in a 2m71/2f handicap chase on heavy going at Chepstow in December.
THE EDGE
NEVER was a syndicate better named than 'The Heavy Going Partnership' for whom Bernard Seven ploughed through the mire at Perth yesterday to land the Daily Record First For Scottish Racing Handicap Hurdle.
Horseracing: LUCINDA ENDS WIN FAMINE
Batswing developed into a useful performer on the Flat last year and rounded off his campaign with a fine victory on heavy going in the November Handicap at Doncaster.
Batswing looks worth a flutter; RACING
He is better than he was able to show that day and looks worth another chance now returned to a soft surface as his best piece of form came on heavy going at Ffos Las.
THE EDGE
Junior has the distinction of winning at both Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival - as I once did in 1982 - and connections were happy to supplement him for Kempton, at a cost of PS10k, once the forecast was for heavy going.
Muddy good for Junior; RESULT!
"Both my horses are in great form and, while Alexander Banquet is the better suited by the ground, heavy going doesn't seem to bother Florida Pearl," says Willie Mullins.
GAA: PEARL JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN
Spurs made heavy going of it against Third Division Torquay at White Hart Lane last night, taking an hour to break the deadlock before easing into the third round with a 2-0 win.
Hoddle's cup target
FINDING it heavy going to get your stake money for the Cheltenham Festival next month?
MONKEY PUZZLE; WIN pounds 500 FREE BETS
Conditions at Keresley Grange Primary School would have earned a 'heavy going' tag from the racing fraternity, but the competitors made light of the mud to throw up some splendid action.
Keresley Grange land first trophy; SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY
He should be a different proposition now returned to a testing surface and 3m on heavy going at this stiff track should be ideal for such a strong stayer.
THE EDGE
Trainer Francois Rohaut has no worries about the heavy going for his Champion Hurdle hopeful Gun'n Roses in the Agfa Hurdle.
Horseracing: Don't pull the trigger on Gun yet
Despite a winter that has left Britain looking like a paddy field thelikelihood of heavy going at Cheltenham is 40-1, according to Eurobet.
Football Betzone: TAKE A RUNNING JUMP
Sakhee had earlier won over course and distance in the Thresher Classic Trial on heavy going before landing the Dante Stakes at York.
Sakhee looks set to strike; RACING
Archie Meade 4.25 Listowel SP forecast 8-13 Clear on ratings and the only runner in the field to have won on heavy going and over this 2m6f trip.
BANKERS OR BLOWOUTS?
Clearly not hindered by the heavy going, Miss Riviera Golf gamely held Serene View by half a length in the 16- runner contest.
HORSERACING: Miss hits it off in France