Difficulty & Adversity: English Vocabulary List

used to suggest that while there may be times of happiness, there will also be times of hardship, and that it is important to be realistic and practical in one's approach to life

"Life is not always easy and fun — life is not all beer and skittles."

"She had imagined her new role as glamorous, but life is not all beer and skittles."

used to imply that during prosperous times, people are more likely to form friendships, while during challenging times, the strength and authenticity of those friendships are tested

"Good times attract friends, hard times reveal them — prosperity makes friends, and adversity tries them."

"He had hundreds of contacts when the company was doing well — prosperity makes friends, and adversity tries them."

used to suggest that difficult or challenging experiences can sometimes lead to positive outcomes or insights, emphasizing the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity

"Sometimes hard times help you see clearly — sometimes darkness can show you the light."

"The crisis forced the team to reassess their strategy — sometimes darkness can show you the light."

used to suggest that the final part of a journey or task often feels more difficult and takes more time than the earlier stages

"The final stretch is always the hardest — the longest mile is the last mile home."

"After years of work, the final stage of the project proved the most gruelling — the longest mile is the last mile home."

used to imply that there are no shortcuts or easy paths to acquiring knowledge or expertise, and that the only way to truly learn something is through hard work, study, and practice

"There are no shortcuts to real learning — there is no royal road to learning."

"She worked through every problem methodically, knowing there is no royal road to learning."

used to imply that everyone has their own unique challenges or problems to deal with, and that it is important to be understanding and empathetic toward others who may be struggling

"Everyone has their own burden — we all have our cross to bear."

"He tried not to complain, knowing we all have our cross to bear."

used to suggest that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen in quick succession or in large numbers, making the situation seem even worse

"I missed the bus, and then it started raining — when it rains, it pours."

"The company faced a lawsuit, a PR crisis, and a product recall in the same week — when it rains, it pours."

used to imply that someone or something that is considered undesirable or unwelcome will inevitably reappear or resurface, even if they have been supposedly eliminated or dealt with

"Trouble always finds its way back — a bad penny always turns up."

"He had been dismissed twice before and was back again — a bad penny always turns up."

used to suggest that difficult experiences and challenges are necessary for personal growth and development, and that one should embrace them as opportunities for self-improvement

"Hardship makes you stronger — a gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials."

"Every setback she faced had made her sharper — a gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials."

used to imply that when a situation has reached a certain extreme or chaotic state, it cannot become any worse or more aggravated

"There is nothing worse than black or more bitter than salt — above black there is no colour, and above salt there is no savor."

"The scandal had already destroyed the company's reputation — above black there is no colour, and above salt there is no savor."

used to imply that it is easy to appear virtuous and noble when everything is going well, but it is during times of hardship that a person's true nature is tested

"Crisis reveals true character — calamity is man's true touchstone."

"The pandemic exposed the real values of organisations and leaders — calamity is man's true touchstone."

used to suggest that the difficulties or hardships one encounters in life can serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and can ultimately lead to a better place in the afterlife

"Suffering builds strength — crosses are ladders that lead to heaven."

"She looked back on her hardest years as the foundation of everything she had achieved — crosses are ladders that lead to heaven."

used to imply that creating or building something requires effort, time, and resources, while destroying or tearing something down can often be accomplished quickly and with little effort

"Breaking things is easier than building them — it is easier to tear down than to build up."

"The critics were quick to dismiss the plan but offered nothing in return — it is easier to tear down than to build it back up."

used to emphasize that everyone has their own struggles and pain that they carry within them, even if it is not outwardly visible or apparent to others

"Everyone carries their own pain — every heart has its own ache."

"She had no idea what he was going through — every heart has its own ache."

used to say that every journey or course of action will have its own set of obstacles or challenges

"Every journey has its problems — every path has its puddle."

"The new strategy came with its own complications — every path has its own puddle."

used to imply that life is full of challenges and setbacks, and that when one problem or difficulty is resolved, another one inevitably arises

"Problems never stop coming — if it is not one thing, it is another."

"Just as one issue was resolved, another appeared — if it is not one thing, it is another."

used to imply that a task or request given is impossible or extremely difficult to accomplish

"Some tasks are simply impossible — you may as well bid me lade the sea with a nutshell."

"Asking a two-person team to deliver in two days was unrealistic — you may as well bid me lade the sea with a nutshell."

used to suggest that success is not a destination but an ongoing process, and that each new level of achievement brings with it new challenges and difficulties to overcome

"New success brings new challenges — new levels, new devils."

"As the company grew, so did the complexity of its problems — new levels, new devils."

used to imply that people who are unhappy may feel a sense of comfort or relief in knowing that they are not alone in their suffering and that others share their pain

"Unhappy people like others to share their pain — misery loves company."

"He vented to anyone who would listen after the setback — misery loves company."

used to imply that problems or difficulties tend to occur in clusters or sequences, rather than as isolated incidents

"Problems tend to come together — misfortunes never come singly."

"The engine failed the same week the roof leaked and the boiler broke — misfortunes never come singly."

used to describe a challenging task or problem that requires careful thought and attention to detail

"It is a hard task."

"Winning this competition against such strong opponents felt impossible; it was all Lombard Street to a China orange."

used to express a sense of emotional or psychological exhaustion, where someone becomes indifferent or desensitized to challenges due to experiencing significant adversity or hardship

"Above black there is no color."

"Having faced so many tragedies, she seemed resigned, as if above black there is no color, indifferent to further suffering."

used to describe a challenging task or problem that requires careful thought and attention to detail

"It is all Lombard Street to a China orange."

"Solving this complex cryptographic puzzle is like comparing Lombard Street to a China orange; it requires immense expertise and careful analysis."