Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
rocky start

rocky start

8 4.0
A difficult beginning to an activity or relationship
  • noun
translation icon : comienzo difícil
  • Despite the rocky start for democracy in Guinea, the West African nation has continued to push forward with ambitious plans for development.
  • a rocky start
  • a very rocky start
  • rocky start to the season

But this morning, things got off to a rocky start.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • We had a rocky start, but that's all behind us.

    Becky (2020)

  • While the dance seemed to get off to a rocky start, it turned out to be very well received by participants.

    Blog text (19)

  • Despite their rocky start, the two became friends.

  • Little bit of a rocky start, but I think I finished strong.

    The Good Humor Man (2005)

  • We got off to a little rocky start.

    Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990)

  • Now, we're off to a rocky start.

    Air Bud (1997)

  • We had a little bit of a rocky start earlier in the year.

    Blog text (12)

  • The Alliance got off to a rocky start, but to date it's brokered more than $100 million in grants to liberal nonprofits.

    Blog text (2)

  • Providence, R.I. -- Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo's signature initiative this year -- a proposal for two years of free tuition at the state's public colleges -- is off to a rocky start.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Despite their rocky start, the team rallied together and won the championship.

Synonyms

rocky road
vsrocky start
  • Informal
4 5.7

A time with many problems

refers to trouble in the initial phase rather than across a long period
tough experience
vsrocky start
1 3.9

A difficult time that is hard to get through

focuses on trouble in the initial phase rather than a generally hard event

Antonyms

off and running
4 4.8

Started well and now making good progress

How Difficult

rocky start
8 4.0
first hurdle
4 4.1

Surface Forms

rocky start singular
rocky starts plural

Morphology

rocky + start

The meaning 'a difficult or troubled beginning' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'rocky' (characterized by problems) with 'start' (beginning); the adjective straightforwardly modifies the noun to indicate a problematic beginning. This adjective+noun composition and the metaphor of 'rocky' meaning rough/difficult is cross-linguistically common and should be predictable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Rocky start brings to mind beginning a journey on rough, stony ground where you might stumble and slow down. That's why rocky and start together mean 'a difficult or troubled beginning'.