Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. Going to medical school is not going to be easy. In fact, it will be a tough row to hoe
2. Life can be a hard row to hoe. You have to put a roof over your head and food on the table, and it’s not easy for anyone.

The expression suggests that using a hoe (a garden tool) to weed a row of plants can sometimes be a difficult task.