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!
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.
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.
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.