What it means
A rough patch is a spell where life gets a bit battered and awkward for a while. Your relationship's tense, money's tight, work's a headache, your head's all over the shop, whatever. The key bit is it usually isn't forever. You're just in a dodgy stretch and trying to get through it without fully losing the plot.
Usage examples
"We’ve been skint and snappy lately, proper rough patch, but we’ll grab a takeaway Friday and reset. It’s not the end of the world."
"They hit a rough patch after the move but things are better now."
"The business went through a rough patch during the recession."
"Me and Jess are in a rough patch right now, so we're trying not to turn every tiny thing into World War Three."
"Had a proper rough patch after I lost that job, but I'm slowly getting my feet back under me."
Where it comes from
This one’s pretty literal. It comes from the idea of hitting a rough bit of road or ground, where the ride gets shaky and annoying before it smooths out again. By the early 20th century, English was using it for a difficult spell in life, work, or a relationship that’s tough but not meant to last forever.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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