Idiom Breakdown

push water uphill

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Definition

To try to achieve a goal despite huge resistance or nearly futile awkwardness, the task being an uphill battle.

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"A Salesman Unaided by the House is Pushing Water Uphill."
"Without that commitment you will be pushing water uphill the whole time and will lose your own, necessary motivation."
"Persuading Kenny that measuring his calves did not require removal of his underpants and trousers was akin to pushing water uphill. He claimed that he couldn't tell what I was saying, which seemed strange as he had no problem deciphering the initial message."
"Our relationship with Donovan Leisure was doing well, in truth because Rod Hills and I worked so hard on it, but often it felt like pushing water uphill."
"And they have another drink, and they try to talk about something else, they really do, but it's like pushing water uphill: it won't work, and it's exhausting."

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