hoe

a hard row to hoe

A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Tax reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a hard row to hoe, given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a hard row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
See also: hard, hoe, row

a long row to hoe

A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Immigration reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a long row to hoe, given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a long row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
See also: hoe, long, row

bros before hoes

slang A reminder, said by a male to his male friend(s), asserting that their friendship should be more important than relationships or interactions with females. Come on, man, don't ditch us for that girl you just met! Bros before hoes, bro!
See also: before, bro, hoe

hoe (one's) own row

To not interfere in someone else's affairs; to not pry or be nosy. Hoe your own row, will you? I can take care of my problems just fine. I really wish she would hoe her own row and stop asking me about my finances. So there I was, hoeing my own row, when the security guard comes over and starts asking me all kinds of questions.
See also: hoe, own, row

a tough row to hoe

A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Immigration reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a tough row to hoe given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a tough row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
See also: hoe, row, tough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hoe one's own row

Rur. to mind one's own business. Tom: You're cutting up those carrots awful small. Jane: Hoe your own row! He didn't get involved in other people's fights. He just hoed his own row.
See also: hoe, own, row

tough row to hoe

 and hard row to hoe
Fig. a difficult task to carry out; a heavy set of burdens. It's a tough row to hoe, but hoe it you will. This is not an easy task. This is a hard row to hoe.
See also: hoe, row, tough
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

tough row to hoe

Also, hard row to hoe. A difficult course, hard work to accomplish, as in He knew he'd have a tough row to hoe by running against this popular incumbent. [First half of 1800s]
See also: hoe, row, tough
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a hard row to hoe

or

a tough row to hoe

A hard row to hoe or a tough row to hoe is a situation which is very difficult to deal with. With four children under six and very little money, my mother had a hard row to hoe. In a criminal prosecution against the police, the prosecutor has a very tough row to hoe. She is the first to admit that being a woman in politics has been a hard row to hoe.
See also: hard, hoe, row
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a hard (or tough) row to hoe

a difficult task.
Hoeing a row of plants is used here as a metaphor for very arduous work.
See also: hard, hoe, row
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hoe

and ho
n. a prostitute; a whore. (Originally black. Streets.) Get them hoes outa here!

tough row to hoe

n. a difficult task to carry out; a heavy set of burdens. This is not an easy task. This is a tough row to hoe.
See also: hoe, row, tough
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

a tough row to hoe

Informal
A difficult situation to endure.
See also: hoe, row, tough
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

tough/hard/long row to hoe, a

A difficult course to follow; hard work to accomplish. This metaphor comes from nineteenth-century America, when most people lived in rural areas and cultivated at least some land. David Crockett used it in his Tour to the North and Down East (1835): “I never opposed Andrew Jackson for the sake of popularity. I knew it was a hard row to hoe; but I stood up to the rack.”
See also: hard, long, row, tough
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a hard row to hoe
  • a long row to hoe
  • a tough row to hoe
  • tough row to hoe
  • go down the rabbit hole
  • rabbit hole
  • pull the carpet (out) from under (one's) feet
  • pull the carpet/rug out from under somebody's feet
  • be in a cleft stick
References in periodicals archive
But you must hoe before weeds grow too lusty, and keep at it on a regular basis.
Gardeners, work smarter by using a better hoe
A new type of cutting hoe was introduced by Wilkinson Sword a few years ago and was named the "Swoe".
FLOWER POWER
HOE brings exceptional expertise and an outstanding reputation to our existing business in this market.
Atkins buys oil & gas offshore firm for $73mn
As addressed earlier, Meadows asked Hoe to pen his biography and made himself available for hours of interviews.
The Quiet Professional: Major Richard J. Meadows of the U.S. Army Special Forces
Soms verstaan ek nie mooi hoe die dinge georganiseerd geraak het nie.
Die afrikaanse skryfgids
Maximum weed dry weight was found in no weeding (2.85 g m-2) that was statistically similar to spike hoe (2.80 g m-2) and Nominee 100 SC (2.83 g m-2).
DEVELOPMENT AND APPRAISAL OF ECONOMICAL AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR WEED MANAGEMENT IN DRILL SEEDED AEROBIC RICE (Oryza sativa L.)
The origins for the Victory Hoe go back to Russian and Ukrainian gardeners, some of the best in the world.
The Victory Hoe: make your own garden variety weeding tools
When it arrives at Samphire Hoe, which was constructed from the spoil extracted from below the Channel during construction of the tunnel, the Olympic Torch will be carried by torchbearers on nature trails around the site.
Olympic Torch to go through part of Channel Tunnel
You can always rent a larger model or hire a pro if your hoe isn't up to the task.
Backhoe basics: add this versatile tool to your kit for more than digging power
Hoe hoe hoe There's no better time to buy a hoe if you don't already have one.
Around the garden; Jobs big and small to do this month
The Valley Oak wheel hoe is much faster than a stirrup hoe and is designed to reduce back strain.
Ultimate Overalls, a Better Hoe, Composting Bags
Sidney, OH, April 28, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Barnyard Products.com (http://www.barnyardproducts.com) a web site that features mostly made in North America lawn and garden supplies and farm and ranch supply, now makes The Rogue hoe garden tools available to its ever-growing customer base.
Barnyard Products.com, an Online Store for Farm and Garden Supplies, is Pleased to Announce That Rogue Hoes Are Now Part of Their Line of Gardening Tools
The CNH Precision Air Hoe Drill, available as the Case IH Precision Hoe[TM] 800 Air Hoe Drill and the New Holland P2070 Precision Hoe Drill, delivers the precise seed and fertilizer placement demanded by producers growing high-value, small-seeded crops on large acreages.
Case IH Precision Hoe[TM] 800 Air Hoe Drill and New Holland P2070 Precision Hoe Drill
Hoe regularly to help prevent the regrowth of some perennial weeds.
ThreeWays; TO HOE EFFECTIVELY
Also in October, be sure to check out Richard Hoe's column, The Investment Edge, online.
What's new online ... October 2009