rough patch

A difficult or embattling period of one's life.

Noun

  1. A difficult or embattling period of one's life.
    • It's in the nature of politics, and certainly the presidency, to go through rough patches – times when, because of a boneheaded mistake, an unforeseen circumstance, a sound but unpopular decision, or a failure to...
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rough, patch.

Forms

rough patches