A phrase used to emphasize that a particular situation (or life in general) is difficult. It is often used humorously and/or ironically when one is having difficulty doing something that should not be difficult or complaining about something that is not particularly problematic. Man, the struggle is real—it took me five tries to get into that parking space. A: "Ugh, there's a crazy line at the ice cream place right now." B: "Boy, the struggle is real, huh?"