an 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 struggle/battle/task
  • uphill battle
  • an uphill job
  • an uphill fight
  • an uphill struggle
  • an uphill task
  • task
  • struggle
  • from the outset
  • 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.
Money, said: "We have serious concerns that the alarming rate of cashpoint and bank branch closures risks leaving people in Scotland facing an uphill battle to access the cash they rely on."
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
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.
Carla vows to contest the will but faces an uphill battle as Johnny insists they should respect his son's wishes.
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.
Without the signed EO on contractualization, Magtubo said they expect an uphill battle in getting the SB 1116 pass through the Senate.
'If we achieve our vision in 8 years, we have a great chance of being a global force in 50 years, but if we can't even achieve that vision in 2025, we'll have an uphill battle,' she said.
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.
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.
Senate seat, knows he faces an uphill battle at best.
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.
April 7, 1995, there was an uphill battle in Pshihavr mountain gorge in Tajikistan.
Stepanek and Hajek faced an uphill battle after losing their first service game in the third set and Schukin and Golubev sealed victory on their first match point.
To adopt a lifestyle that is unselfish and sacred is an uphill battle. It is more comfortable to seek a hassle-free existence centred on creature comforts and without to much deep thinking to unsettle moral and spiritual inertia.