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Preposition after adjective

tricky + preposition

Tricky is commonly followed by for when something is difficult for a person. Other prepositions usually describe context or topic.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with tricky?

Use tricky for to say something is difficult for someone. In, with, at, and on often introduce the area, activity, or topic connected to the difficulty rather than acting as fixed complements.

Math can be tricky for beginners.
She is tricky with negotiations.
Things became tricky in the final stage.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
tricky for + person/group

Showing who has difficulty

Use tricky for to identify the person affected by the challenge.

This software is tricky for new users.
The question was tricky for the class.
2
tricky with + thing/activity

Describing difficulty handling something

With often refers to dealing with tools, people, or situations.

He is tricky with numbers.
The team became tricky with deadlines.
3
tricky in + situation

Describing a difficult stage or context

In introduces the situation where something becomes difficult.

Negotiations became tricky in the second round.
4
tricky at + activity

Talking about skill in an activity

At can describe the area in which something is difficult.

She is tricky at estimating costs.
5
tricky on + topic

Referring to a difficult subject

On introduces the topic being discussed or tested.

The interview was tricky on tax law.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
tricky for
This puzzle is tricky for children.
standard pattern for difficulty affecting someone
tricky with
He gets tricky with contracts.
describes dealing with something difficult or sensitive
tricky in
Things became tricky in the final hour.
in introduces a situation or stage
tricky at
She is tricky at pronunciation.
possible but less common than bad at or good at
tricky on
The exam was tricky on statistics.
on introduces the topic area

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in for affected people

Use for to identify who finds something difficult.

✕ The task is tricky in beginners. ✓ The task is tricky for beginners.

Overusing tricky at

At is possible in limited contexts, but other adjectives may sound more natural.

✕ He is tricky at maths. ✓ Maths is tricky for him.

Confusing topic and person

On usually introduces a subject, not the affected person.

✕ The test was tricky on students. ✓ The test was tricky for students.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The instructions are tricky ___ first-time users.
2. Negotiations became tricky ___ the final meeting.
3. The exam was tricky ___ grammar.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the most common pattern with tricky?

Tricky for is the most standard structure when describing difficulty for someone.

Can I say tricky with?

Yes. It can describe handling something difficult, especially in informal English.

Is tricky at natural English?

It is possible but less common than other expressions such as bad at or good at.

tailor-made-for-to-by-according, as "talented in" or "talented at"? "tall in" or "tall with"? tamil in, as, for, from or by? "tangled in" or "tangled with"? tantamount to "taxable in", "taxable under" or "taxable at"? "technical in" or "technical for"? teeming with or in? "tempting for" or "tempting to"? tender for, to, in, with or of? "terrible for" or "terrible at"?

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