hardship

• In the trenches

  To be actively engaged in the most difficult, challenging, or fundamental aspects of a task or situation.

• A dog's life

  A life full of hardship, toil, and often poor treatment.

• A life of drudgery

  This phrase describes an existence characterized by hard, unpleasant, or uninteresting work that offers little reward or satisfaction.

• Starving to death

  To suffer and ultimately die due to a prolonged and extreme lack of food.

• Flat broke

  To be completely without any money whatsoever, often to the point of destitution.