Full of rocks; rough, difficult, or unstable in nature or progress.
From 'rock' plus suffix '-y,' with 'rock' from Old French 'roque' from Vulgar Latin 'rocca.' The figurative meaning of 'difficult' or 'unsteady' developed by the 18th century.
The metaphorical use of 'rocky' to describe relationships or situations reflects our deep association between physical terrain and life's challenges - we still 'navigate' difficulties and seek 'solid ground.' This shows how spatial metaphors fundamentally shape human thinking.
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