hard decision — difficult choice
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A situation where you have to choose between two or more options, and it is not easy to decide because each option has important consequences.
Say it like a native
Textbook It was an extremely arduous determination to arrive at.
Native It was a hard decision to make.
'A hard decision to make' is natural; 'arduous determination' is overblown.
Pattern: make/take/reach a hard decision
In use
- Quitting my job was a hard decision, but I knew it was the right thing to do.daily life
- In my opinion, choosing a university is a hard decision for many students because it can affect their future career and personal life.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ It was a hard decision to take.
✓ It was a hard decision to make.
In English you MAKE a decision (BrE sometimes 'take a decision' in formal contexts, but 'make' is always safe).
Common collocations
a hard decision— make, tough, difficult, face
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'easy decision,' which means a choice that is simple to make.