long row to hoe
A difficult, arduous task or set of tasks; a lengthy, demanding project.
“Don’t you suppose I know all that you’ve been through. . . ? I’ve followed you every step. . . .” “Well, you’ve had a long row to hoe.”
ADJ
bottom, middle, top | back, front | horizontal, vertical | double, single
neat
The farmer planted vegetables in neat rows across the field.
serried
The soldiers stood in serried rows, shields overlapping as they advanced toward the enemy.
endless
The supermarket had endless rows of products stretching all the way to the back wall.
PREP
in a/the ~
She won three tennis matches in a row last month.
~ of
The children sat in a row of chairs facing the movie screen.
PHRASES
the end/middle of the row, rows and rows, row upon row
The farmer planted rows and rows of vegetables in his garden every spring.
ADJ
almighty, awful, big, bitter, blazing, fearful, ferocious, fierce, flaming, furious, great, huge, major, serious, terrible, tremendous, unholy, violent
They had a terrible row about money and didn't speak for a week.
domestic, family
stand-up
My parents had a stand-up row about money last night in the kitchen.
public | drunken | long-running | diplomatic, political
VERB + ROW
have
kick up
She kicked up a row when the restaurant served her cold soup.
cause
ROW + VERB
blow up, break out, develop, erupt
A heated disagreement developed between the neighbors about where to park their cars.
go on, rage (on)
PREP
in a/the ~
She lost her job in the row about workplace safety standards.
~ about/over
The neighbors had a big row over whose fence needed repairing.
~ between
There was a terrible row between my neighbors about the noisy music late at night.
~ with
He had a terrible row with his boss about the missed deadline yesterday.
ADJ
unholy
VERB + ROW
make
The neighbors made such a terrible row last night that nobody could sleep.
ROW + VERB
go on, rage (on)
A bitter disagreement between the two neighbors raged on for several months.
ADJ
almighty, awful, big, bitter, blazing, fearful, ferocious, fierce, flaming, furious, great, huge, major, serious, terrible, tremendous, unholy, violent
My parents had a terrible row about money last night and didn't speak for hours.
domestic, family
stand-up
My parents had a stand-up row about money last night and didn't speak for hours.
public | drunken | long-running | diplomatic, political
VERB + ROW
have
kick up
She kicked up a terrible row when she discovered the restaurant had overcharged her.
cause
ROW + VERB
blow up, break out, develop, erupt
A disagreement developed between the neighbors about where to park their cars.
go on, rage (on)
PREP
in a/the ~
The manager got suspended after being involved in a heated row with the referee.
~ about/over
My parents had a big row over who should pay for my university fees.
~ between
There was a terrible row between the two neighbors about the garden fence.
~ with
We had a terrible row with our neighbors about the noise from their dog last week.
ADJ
unholy
VERB + ROW
make
The neighbors made such a terrible row last night that nobody could sleep.
ROW + VERB
go on, rage (on)
A heated argument between the neighbors raged on for several weeks before they finally made peace.