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Meaning & use

rough ride

noun, phrase·Everyday

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UK/ˌrʌf ˈraɪd/
US/ˌrʌf ˈraɪd/

Meanings

  1. nounusually singularfigurative

    A period of difficulty, criticism or hard luck in which things do not go smoothly.

    Grammar: Usually singular with an or have: a rough ride; the company has had a rough ride.

    Patterns

    • have a rough ride
    • face a rough ride
    • a rough ride for someone

    The new manager had a rough ride in her first year.

    Small shops have faced a rough ride since the highway opened.

    Investors expect a rough ride when interest rates rise.

  2. nouncountable

    A bumpy, uncomfortable journey in a vehicle or on an animal.

    Grammar: Countable in the literal sense: a rough ride across the field.

    Patterns

    • a rough ride over something

    The old truck gave us a rough ride along the dirt track.

    The ferry had a rough ride crossing the channel in the storm.

    The tourists enjoyed a rough ride on camels across the dunes.

  3. phraseidiomBritish

    Harsh treatment, such as tough questions or open criticism, directed at a person.

    Grammar: Fixed in the phrase give someone a rough ride; the person comes between give and a.

    Patterns

    • give someone a rough ride

    Reporters gave the minister a rough ride at the press conference.

    The audience gave the opening act a rough ride.

    Voters gave the mayor a rough ride over the parking charges.

Word forms

pluralrough rides

Common combinations

in for a rough ride
The team is in for a rough ride this season.
have a rough ride
The firm had a rough ride during the downturn.
give someone a rough ride
Fans gave the manager a rough ride after the defeat.
expect a rough ride
Expect a rough ride if you travel in winter.
endure a rough ride
She endured a rough ride in her first campaign.

Synonyms and how they differ

hard time
Hard time is a looser everyday phrase for trouble and is not tied to a journey picture.
bumpy patch
Bumpy patch suggests a short rough period, while rough ride may cover a longer stretch.
ordeal
Ordeal is stronger and means a painful, distressing experience.
turbulence
Turbulence is a more formal noun for unstable conditions, often in business or politics.

Opposites

smooth rideeasy ride

Word family

rough adjective
not smooth or gentle
roughly adverb
approximately or in a rough manner
roughness noun
the quality of being uneven or harsh
ride noun
a trip on a vehicle or animal

Commonly confused: rough ride or rough road?

rough ride vs rough road

A rough road is a physical road with a poor surface, while a rough ride is the experience of difficulty, either on the road or in life.

Practice

The government is expecting a ___ in parliament when it presents the unpopular budget.

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