like pulling teeth
like pulling teeth
Said of something that is especially difficult, tedious, requires an extreme amount of effort, or is done in the most difficult or unpleasant way possible. With this new way of preparing vegetables, getting your kids to eat their greens is no longer like pulling teeth. It's been like pulling teeth trying to get my family members organized for this get together, but I think it will all be worth it!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
like pulling teeth
Very difficult, especially to extract information from someone. For example, It's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer from him.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
like pulling teeth
If doing something is like pulling teeth, it is very difficult. Identifying poor working practices is easy. Doing something about it is like pulling teeth. Trying to get him to talk about his music was like pulling teeth. Note: When a dentist pulls someone's tooth, they pull it out of their gum. In the past, this was done without anaesthetic and so it was difficult and painful.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
like pulling teeth
extremely difficult or laborious to do. informal 2002 Independent It was like pulling teeth in the first half. I thought we were never going to score.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
like pulling ˈteeth
very difficult: It was like pulling teeth to get the kids to work together.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017