Collocations for "rougher"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "rougher" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
rough
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- rough [skin, stubble, scales, patches]
- rough [terrain, surface, sea]
- the [road, sea, terrain] is rough (here)
- just a rough [outline, sketch, drawing]
- a rough [outline] of
- is (too) rough on his [children, employees, students]
- don't be so rough on him
- (there are) still a few rough edges to be [smoothed out, dealt with]
- finished a rough draft (of)
- is a rough guide to
- a rough (enough) [guess, estimate]
- is (only) a rough estimate
- to give you a rough idea
- UK: is a little rough and ready
- is (a little) rough around the edges
- rough handling of [suspects, baggage, food]
- sexually explicit: [loves, prefers] rough sex
- (he) is a rough diamond
- life can be rough sometimes
- it is going to be a rough [ride, day, show]
- give him a rough ride
- is having a rough time (in school, at work)
- has been a rough year for [investors, consumers, farmers]
- (have) had it rough
- the [ball, golf ball, shot] landed in the rough
- the rough [along, alongside, next to] the fairway
- the rough by the [fairway, green]
- the [stores, cars, windows] were smashed by roughs
- the rough and the tough
- you have to take the rough with the smooth
- the [plan, project, proposal] ended in the rough
- sexually explicit, slang: [she, her lover] liked a bit of (the) rough
- is a [true, real, genuine] diamond in the rough
- roughed out a [plan, design, shape]
- roughed up the [kid, store owner, client]
- [they, the gang] roughed him up
- rough him up to [make him pay, convince him to stop]
- [was, got] roughed up by the [gang, mob, bookie]
- roughed up [at school, in jail]
- roughed out a [plan, design, shape]
- the [ball, golf ball, shot] landed in the rough
- rough [skin, stubble, scales, patches]
- roughed up the [kid, store owner, client]
- the rough [along, alongside, next to] the fairway
- rough [terrain, surface, sea]
- [they, the gang] roughed him up
- the rough by the [fairway, green]
- the [road, sea, terrain] is rough (here)
- rough him up to [make him pay, convince him to stop]
- the [stores, cars, windows] were smashed by roughs
- just a rough [outline, sketch, drawing]
- [was, got] roughed up by the [gang, mob, bookie]
- the rough and the tough
- a rough [outline] of
- roughed up [at school, in jail]
- you have to take the rough with the smooth
- is (too) rough on his [children, employees, students]
- the [plan, project, proposal] ended in the rough
- don't be so rough on him
- sexually explicit, slang: [she, her lover] liked a bit of (the) rough
- (there are) still a few rough edges to be [smoothed out, dealt with]
- is a [true, real, genuine] diamond in the rough
- finished a rough draft (of)
- is a rough guide to
- a rough (enough) [guess, estimate]
- is (only) a rough estimate
- to give you a rough idea
- rough and [tumble, tough]
- UK: is a little rough and ready
- UK: a rough-and-ready [fighter, volunteer, servant]
- is (a little) rough around the edges
- rough handling of [suspects, baggage, food]
- sexually explicit: [loves, prefers] rough sex
- (he) is a rough diamond
- life can be rough sometimes
- it is going to be a rough [ride, day, show]
- give him a rough ride
- is having a rough time (in school, at work)
- has been a rough year for [investors, consumers, farmers]
- (have) had it rough