cross to bear

noun

A problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person that one has to accept and deal with, although one finds it very difficult, or it causes trouble or worry over a long period of time.

“We all have our crosses to bear.”

Similar
ass in a slingbindbucket of syrupcalvarycauldroncrossdifficultydilemma
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Meanings

nouncross to bear (plural crosses to bear)

plural crosses to bear · alternative cross to take up · alternative heavy cross to bear · alternative heavy cross to take up

  1. idiomaticA problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person that one has to accept and deal with, although one finds it very difficult, or it causes trouble or worry over a long period of time.

    We all have our crosses to bear.

    1 more example

    The loss was a heavy cross for her to bear.

    Synonyms: ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cauldron, cross, difficulty, dilemma

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person that one has to accept and deal with, although one finds it very difficult, or it causes trouble or worry over a long period of time.

Similar
ass in a slingbindbucket of syrupcalvarycauldroncrossdifficultydilemmadire straitsdoghousefixholejamkettlekettle of fishordealpicklepinchplight
Also see
bindbucket of syrupcauldrondilemmadire straitsfixjamkettlekettle of fishpicklepinchquagmirequandarysituationsophie's choicespotspot of botherstatesticky situationsticky wickettight spottrouble

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 煩惱 /烦恼, 麻煩 /麻烦
  • 煩惱 /烦恼 (faan⁴ nou⁵)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
  • 麻煩 /麻烦 (maa⁴ faan⁴)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
  • 心理負擔 /心理负担 (sam¹ lei⁵ fu⁶ daam¹)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Chinese Mandarin 煩惱 /烦恼, 麻煩 /麻烦
  • 煩惱 /烦恼 (fánnǎo)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
  • 麻煩 /麻烦 (máfan)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
  • 心理負擔 /心理负担 (xīnlǐ fùdān)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Danish kors at bære
  • kors at bærea problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Finnish taakka, risti kannettavana
  • taakkaa problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
  • risti kannettavanaa problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
German ein/sein Kreuz zu tragen haben)
  • ein/sein Kreuz zu tragen haben)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Japanese 苦難
  • 苦難 (kunan)a problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Spanish cruz que cargar
  • cruz que cargara problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person
Cite this entry
APA

cross to bear. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20to%20bear

MLA

“cross to bear.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20to%20bear. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross to bear,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20to%20bear.

Source: cross to bear on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.