“Tough road to hoe” or “tough row to hoe”: which is correct?
The short answer
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.
Why people get it wrong
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.
What kind of mistake it is
This is an example of a malapropism, where an incorrect phrase is mistakenly used in place of a similar-sounding, correct phrase.
Examples with tough row to hoe
- Given the complexity of the project, we’ve got a tough row to hoe ahead of us.
- They certainly have a tough row to hoe if they want to achieve success in such a competitive market.
- With so many challenges in front of them, it’s no surprise they find themselves with a tough row to hoe.
Quick check
Given the complexity of the project, we’ve got a ahead of us.
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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