nips the bud (verb) nip in the bud: stop early on
Sinonime: backbreaking, burdensome, exhausting, fatiguing,
formidable,
grueling,
harsh,
heavy, labored,
laborious,
murder, no picnic, onerous,
painful, punishing,
rigorous, rough,
severe, strenuous, taxing,
tiring, toilsome,
tough,
troublesome,
trying, uphill
Antonime: easy,
facile, motivating