Going through a rough patch as not going steady? (6)
I believe the answer is:
uneven
'going through a rough patch' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'not going steady?' is the wordplay.
'not' becomes 'un' (I've seen this in other clues).
'going steady?' becomes 'even' ('even' is associated in meaning with 'steady'. I am not sure about the 'going' bit.).
'un'+'even'='UNEVEN'
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for uneven that I've seen before include "That's odd" , "Ill-matched - irregular" , "Not level or smooth" , "Irregular or not smooth" , "Rugged" .)