表达 “a devil of a job” 比喻 “一项非常棘手和烦人的体力或脑力活”。这种任务通常让人费尽周折，唯恐避之而不及，任何必须完成它的人都免不了灰心丧气，甚至气急败坏、恼羞成怒。

例句

I need to turn this screw to stop the water flow to my taps, but I just can't reach it. It's a devil of a job.

我得转动这颗螺丝来阻止水流进水龙头，但我就是够不着它。这可得费九牛二虎之力才行。

These tax returns are a devil of a job. I dread doing them for months before they're due.

填写这些纳税申报单真是繁琐费劲。我不敢面对，拖了好几个月，直到限期前才不得不做。

I had a devil of a job getting to work today. The metro line was temporarily closed and I had to get a bus all the way.

我今天上班真是够折腾的。地铁线路暂时停运了，我一路上都得坐公交车。