tough time

You usually say you are having a tough time or going through a tough time. It acts like a noun in your sentence. You can also use it to describe a specific task. For example, I had a tough time fixing the sink. It tells people you are struggling without needing a long, dramatic story. It is the perfect 'short story' for a long problem.

Use it when you want to be honest about your feelings. It works great when a friend asks how you are. It is also perfect for showing empathy to others. If a coworker looks stressed, say, I know you're having a tough time. It sounds kind and supportive. You can use it in texts, emails, or face-to-face chats. It is a very flexible 'Swiss Army knife' phrase.

Don't use it for tiny, 5-second problems. If you drop your pen, that’s not a tough time. That’s just a mistake. Also, avoid it in extremely formal legal documents. In those cases, use hardship or difficulties. If you are at a party and someone asks 'How's the cake?', don't say it's a tough time. That just sounds like the cake is trying to fight you.

English speakers, especially in the US and UK, value 'resilience'. We often use tough time to acknowledge pain while staying strong. It is a way to admit things are bad without sounding like you've given up. It became very popular in the mid-20th century. It matches the 'keep calm and carry on' spirit. It’s a polite way to share a burden.

You might hear rough time or hard time. They mean almost the same thing. Rough time feels a bit more like a bumpy road. Hard time can sometimes mean someone is being mean to you. For example, My boss is giving me a hard time. But tough time is almost always about the situation itself. It’s the classic version everyone understands.