Grammar fix
an uphill battle
a hard struggle
a situation or task that is very difficult to achieve because there are many obstacles or strong opposition.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Convincing the management to adopt the new policy turned out to be an uphill battle.
I believe reducing plastic waste is an uphill battle, because although people are aware of the problem, changing daily behaviour is extremely challenging.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: It was an uphill battle to convincing them.
Say: It was an uphill battle to convince them.
'An uphill battle TO + base verb', not 'to -ing'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'An uphill battle/struggle' carries 'long, hard, against the odds' in one idiom.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
an uphill battle/struggle
- face
- to convince
- against
- still