A difficult or challenging period in life, relationships, or circumstances that is expected to be temporary. Implies that smoother times lie ahead.
Comes from the literal experience of traveling over rough terrain, where the path becomes difficult to navigate. The metaphorical use developed in the mid-1900s, applying the concept of difficult terrain to life's challenges.
The beauty of this phrase is its implicit optimism - patches are by definition temporary and limited areas. It acknowledges difficulty while suggesting that like rough terrain, you can navigate through it to reach smoother ground ahead.
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