uphill battle

an uphill battle

A task that is very daunting from the outset and continues to be challenging. The incumbent is so popular that defeating her will be an uphill battle. I'm terrible at math, so I have a real uphill battle ahead of me if I want to improve my grade in Algebra.
See also: battle, uphill
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

uphill battle

 and uphill struggle
Fig. a hard struggle. Convincing the senator to see our point of view was an uphill battle, but we finally succeeded.
See also: battle, uphill
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

an uphill ˈstruggle/ˈbattle/ˈtask

something that is difficult and takes a lot of effort over a long period of time: After the recent scandal, he faces an uphill struggle to win back public support before the next election.
See also: battle, struggle, task, uphill
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • an uphill battle
  • an uphill struggle/battle/task
  • an uphill job
  • an uphill fight
  • an uphill struggle
  • an uphill task
  • task
  • struggle
  • from the outset
  • at the outset
References in periodicals archive
In a message to hisfellow councillors, Cllr James Noakes, the cabinet member whose portfolio includes public litter bins, said: "The fantastic weather over the last few days has meant it has been an uphill battle to empty the bins throughout our parks.
Woman fuming after bank holiday weekend leaves public park looking like public toilet; Bins are overflowing and don't even ask what's been left there
SCOTS could face an "uphill battle" to access their cash - due to the "alarming" number of bank and ATM closures.
Struggle to get hands on cash; Scots hit hard by bank and ATM closures
restrictions could the area at the just off Jesmond popular is Resident's has a problem really battle." The passes If the council believes it is only Osborne Road which has a parking problem we really have an uphill battle
Parking set to be banned on more of Osborne Road; council in talks over more double yellow lines in jesmond
JOURNALIST Gemma O'Doherty has an uphill battle to stay in the Presidential race after failing to secure the required support of four county councils.
Journalist O'Doherty facing Aras race exit after council votes blow
Carla vows to contest the will but faces an uphill battle as Johnny insists they should respect his son's wishes.
Welcome to Corrie's dark Underworld; Talk TV
Newcomers Petro Gazz and Tacloban brace for an uphill battle against the seasoned squads while Navy-Iriga vows a resounding comeback when the Premier Volleyball League unveils its second season Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Newcomers hope for big PVL finish
Without the signed EO on contractualization, Magtubo said they expect an uphill battle in getting the SB 1116 pass through the Senate.
Workers set anti-'endo' rallies on Labor Day
The next five decades for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would be an 'uphill battle' if the bloc fails to meet its goals by 2025, said Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Arroyo foresees 'uphill battle' for Asean if goals not met by 2025
The 34-year-old also reflected on his time as a frequent guest on cable news, which he described as "an uphill battle" while often serving as the lone President Trump advocate against multiple anti-Trump pundits.
Cable news Trump supporter Carl Higbie joins White House administration
The Andre Fabre-trained Esoterique and Sir Michael Stoute's Integral currently have two wins apiece, but the French raider arrives at the top of her game while Integral has suffered an interrupted campaign and appears to be facing an uphill battle to retain her crown.
Pair going head-to-head
The amalgam of his powerful poetry, impeccable storytelling, and impenitent attitude coalesces to create a collection of poetry that artfully defines the uphill battle faced by multiracial Americans.
David Mura: The Last Incantations
Uphill Battle: Reflections On Viet Nam Counterinsurgency documents why a major nation and military powerhouse lost to a relatively small country, and comes from an author who was assigned to Viet Nam in 1962 as a young Foreign Service officer.
Uphill Battle
Senate seat, knows he faces an uphill battle at best.
Audio: In Senate Run, Alameel Sees Chance to "Clean Up the Democratic Party"
Ms Benn, 24, who was elected as a councillor in Croydon earlier this year, faces an uphill battle to join her uncle Hilary Benn in the Commons - she will have to overturn a 15,818 Tory majority to take her place on the green benches.
IN THE NEWS
April 7, 1995, there was an uphill battle in Pshihavr mountain gorge in Tajikistan.
Monument for soldiers died at Tajik-Afghan border 1995 to be erected in Astana