the slings and arrows

slings and arrows

1. Harsh criticisms, judgments, or personal attacks. Her unpopular opinions have brought slings and arrows on her from people all over the country. Now that you're the boss, get ready to face the slings and arrows of unhappy customers and employees alike.
2. Unpleasant or difficult hardships. We've had our share of slings and arrows, but we've managed to build ourselves up into a stable business.
See also: and, arrow, sling
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

slings and arrows

mainly BRITISH, LITERARY
Slings and arrows are bad things that happen to you and that are not your fault. She seemed generally unable to cope with the slings and arrows of life. He endured the usual slings and arrows of a life lived in the media spotlight. Note: This expression comes from the line the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, in Shakespeare's play `Hamlet'. People sometimes use this line in full. Ah well, we all have to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Note: This is a quotation from a speech in Shakespeare's play `Hamlet', where Hamlet is considering whether or not to kill himself: `To be, or not to be - that is the question; Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?' (Act 3, Scene 1)
See also: and, arrow, sling
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

slings and arrows

adverse factors or circumstances.
This expression is taken from the ‘to be or not to be’ speech in Hamlet: ‘Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them’.
2001 Ian J. Deary Intelligence The genetic lottery and the environmental slings and arrows influence the level of some of our mental capabilities.
See also: and, arrow, sling
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌslings and ˈarrows (of something)

the problems and difficulties (of something): As a politician you have to deal with the slings and arrows of criticism from the newspapers.This comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet: ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’.
See also: and, arrow, sling
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

slings and arrows

Difficulties or hardships.
See also: and, arrow, sling
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • slings and arrows
  • you can dish it out, but you can't take it
  • dish it out
  • dish out
  • live (one's) own life
  • live your own life
  • if you can't take it, (then) don't dish it out
  • thick-skinned
  • thin-skinned
  • (one's) own person
References in classic literature
No one runs so hurriedly to the cover of respectability as the unconventional woman who has exposed herself to the slings and arrows of outraged propriety.
Moon and Sixpence
Among their topics are Gordian knots: solve the toughest problems through negotiations, a herd of cats: managing scientists, a delicate art: managing your boss, the slings and arrows of academe: survive to get what you need, and shape the future of science and technology.
Lab Dynamics: Management and Leadership Skills for Scientists, 3rd Edition
Following an extended battle with the slings and arrows of leukaemia, she graduated to heaven in the early hours of November 1st.
A year since gran left us
After having to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (aka living with Katie Hopkins) he seemed much happier with the heat of the BBC kitchen (and that of the Almeida restaurant in Islington, north London).
Cheggers smiles again
The only problem is: her status won't protect her from the slings and arrows of the world--or from unwelcome suitors.
Deception's Pawn
Appel satirizes jingoism in the decade following tragedy through the slings and arrows that rain on his main character.
Jacob M. Appel: The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up
The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating & Sex provides a comprehensive handbook for fielding the slings and arrows of romance, and packs in hundreds of scenarios from across the series plus dozens of new entries on romantic trysts gone bad.
The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Dating & Sex
Now, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg must convince his own party to accept the slings and arrows that accompany power, instead of longing for the peaceful slumber of opposition.
Clegg's protest is a powerful message; COMMENT
But Team GB were left to curse the slings and arrows of fortune in running into a Ukraine team in supreme form, and the highest score of the round earning them a 223-212 win.
Wills' defeat spells danger
"These are the slings and arrows - I'm not looking for sympathy, I just thought that one was a little bit cruel."
Ryan's rant on air over 'cruel' jibes; RADIO
She's generated buzz and drawn in younger audiences, but also suffered the slings and arrows of patrons unhappy with her radical rejiggering of a company best known (in its Robert Brustein days) as a leading light of avant-garde reinter-pretations of the classics.
Diane Paulus's different drummer
I should be used, by now, to what Shakespeare called "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.'' I've never had an outrageous fortune and the slings and arrows seem to be coming at me in volleys.
I'm not flushed with success!
The only thing to do in this situation Sheila, is to hold your head up high and carry on, remote from the slings and arrows slung by less moral people.
modern morals An alternative look
However, he struggles to maintain his usual detachment from Consuela, exposing him to the slings and arrows of misfortune.
Bed-hopper Ben finds love hurts; ELEGY (15) VERDICT: ***
Hopefully he'll help put a smile on the faces of those residents who are struggling to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune which life is throwing at them at the moment.
Soap stories: Idol hits right tone; NEIGHBOURS WEEKDAYS, FIVE, 5.35pm