This is an example of a malapropism, where an incorrect phrase is mistakenly used in place of a similar-sounding, correct phrase.
People often mishear the phrase "tough row to hoe" and mistakenly use "tough road to hoe". Since both "road" and "row" are common words, and hoeing a row is less familiar to those who aren't accustomed to agricultural practices, the phrase gets altered.
"Tough row to hoe" is the correct phrase, as it refers to the difficult task of hoeing a row of crops, symbolizing a challenging or arduous task.
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