a devil of a job
A difficult or frustrating time; much difficulty. I'm having a devil of a job getting this window open—I think it has been painted shut. We had a devil of a job convincing Grandpa to go to the doctor for that bad cough.
devil of a job
and devil's own jobthe most difficult task. We had a devil of a job fixing the car. It was the devil's own job finding a hotel with vacancies.
a devil of a job
or the devil's own job
If you have a devil of a job or the devil's own job to do something, it is very difficult to do. We had a devil of a job finding you in that place. Michael was having the devil's own job to make himself heard next to the roadworks.
a (or the) devil of a —
something very large or bad of its kind. informal 1919 Katherine Mansfield Letter We had the devil of a great storm last night, lasting for hours, thunder, lightning, rain & I had appalling nightmares!
a/the ˈdevil of a job, nuisance, fellow, etc.
(old-fashioned) a difficult or an unpleasant example of something: We’re going to have a devil of a job getting the roots of that tree out of the ground.