give (one) a rough ride
To cause one to encounter difficulties or challenges; to cause one to struggle or have a tough time. Going to graduate school while working a full-time job really gave me a rough ride!
have/give somebody a rough/an easy ˈride
(informal) to experience/not experience difficulties when you are doing something; to make things difficult/easy for somebody: She hasn’t always had an easy ride in her business life.The government has been given a rough ride by the popular press recently.