heavy going

count sheep

To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditional …

donkey work

Work that is difficult, boring, and routine.

in the thick of

In the middle of (something difficult).

tickle the dragon's tail

To do something that has a risk of going catastrophically wrong.

pull off

To achieve, accomplish, succeed at (something difficult).

stepping stone

Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.