Introduction
Learning English can feel like an uphill task sometimes. This is a phrase about something that needs energy and determination.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello. Welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I’m Feifei, and I’m here with Phil.
Phil
Hello. How are you, Feifei? Have you been busy?
Feifei
How can you tell? Yes, I have. I’ve been trying to sort out all the photos I’ve taken over the last few years – but there are so many! Choosing which ones to print out really is an uphill task.
Phil
I don’t even want to think about sorting out the pictures on my phone, but I do want to think about that phrase you used – ‘an uphill task’. We use it to talk about something difficult.
Feifei
So, think about walking up a steep hill. It takes a lot of energy and effort, doesn’t it? So, an uphill task is something that’s difficult and takes a lot of energy. I’ve literally got thousands of pictures to sort through.
Phil
That definitely sounds like an uphill task! Any task that looks difficult and takes a lot of determination to complete can be an uphill task. We also often use it when there is something working against us. So, if I fix something in my home, there’s always something else that goes wrong straight afterwards. Keeping everything OK just feels like an uphill task.
Feifei
Oh Phil, you’re doing really well dealing with all the uphill tasks in life. Here are some more examples of people using ‘an uphill task’.
Examples
Sorting out my unread emails is such an uphill task. As soon as I delete the ones I haven’t read, more come in.
I’m going on holiday next week, and I’ve got so much to do before I go. Getting it all done is such an uphill task.
I’ve got so many lines to memorise for a play this weekend. It’s such an uphill task.
Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak, and we’re talking about the phrase ‘an uphill task. Phil, I think we can use other words to replace ‘task’, can’t we?
Phil
Yes, we can use ‘uphill’ with ‘struggle’ or ‘battle’ and it has this same idea – that it will take a lot of determination to complete. The meaning is almost the same.
Feifei
Learning a language can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle, but we’re always here to help.
Phil
Yes, and that’s all from us – we’ll be back next time with another useful English phrase.
Feifei
See you then. Bye!