troublenoun
uk/ˈtrʌb.əl/us/ˈtrʌb.əl/trouble noun (DIFFICULTIES)
B1 [ C or U ] problems or difficulties:
The tax forms were complicated and I had a lot of trouble with them.
Their problems seem to be over for the moment, but there could be more trouble ahead.
The trouble started/began when my father came to live with us.
[ + -ing verb ] Parents often have trouble finding good carers for their children.
We started holding meetings by phone, as travelling in and out of the city became too much trouble.
I should get it finished over the weekend without too much trouble.
You'll only be storing up trouble for the future if you don't go to the dentist now.
She thought her troubles would be over once she'd got divorced.
His birthday is the least of my troubles at the moment - I don't even have enough money to pay the rent.
Most of the current troubles stem from (= are caused by) our new computer system.
B1 [ U ] a situation in which you experience problems, usually because of something you have done wrong or badly:
He's never been in trouble with his teachers before.
She'll be in big trouble if she scratches Sam's car.
He got into financial trouble after his divorce.
I hope you won't get into trouble because of what I said to your dad.
The camp is a great way of getting kids off the street and keeping them out of trouble.
I hope I haven't landed you in trouble with your boss.
The marriage ran into trouble because of her husband's heavy drinking.
The company will be in serious/real trouble if we lose this contract.
He's stayed out of trouble since he was released from jail last year.
B2 [ U ] mainly UK a characteristic of someone or something that is considered a disadvantage or problem:
The trouble with this carpet is that it gets dirty very easily.
It's a brilliant idea. The only trouble is that we don't know how much it will cost.
Ron's trouble is that he's too impatient.
C2 [ U ] problems or difficulties caused by something failing to operate as it should:
The plane developed engine trouble shortly after take-off.
They have a good reputation for building reliable trouble-free cars.
Her knee trouble is expected to keep her out of the game for the rest of the season.
B2 [ U ] problems in the form of arguments, fighting, or violence:
Listen, I don't want any trouble in here, so please just finish your drink and leave.
My parents said we had to leave at the first sign of trouble.
My little brother's always trying to stir up (= create) trouble between me and my boyfriend.
More examples
- A woman in the street saw that he was in trouble and came to his aid.
- You wouldn't believe the amount of trouble I've had with this car.
- She got through her exams without too much trouble.
- I was always getting in trouble for misbehaving at school.
- The only trouble with this café is that the service is so slow.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Difficult things and people
- a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
- a bitter pill (to swallow) idiom
- a hard/tough nut to crack idiom
- albatross
- bane
- chill
- equation
- handicap
- headache
- hiccup
- hot potato
- impediment
- job
- labyrinth
- liability
- the chill wind of sth idiom
- the hard way idiom
- the sharp end
- the/a devil of a sth idiom
- thorn in your flesh/side idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
Advantage and disadvantage
Violent or aggressive
Arguments & disagreements
trouble noun (INCONVENIENCE)
B2 [ U ] slight problems or effort:
I didn't mean to cause you any trouble.
"I'd love some more coffee, if it isn't too much trouble." "Oh, it's no trouble at all."
I don't want to put you to any trouble (= create any work for you).
[ + to infinitive ] If you took the trouble to listen to what I was saying, you'd know what I was talking about.
They went to a lot of trouble (= made a lot of effort) for their dinner party, but half the guests didn't bother to turn up.
It's annoying, but I don't think I'll go to the trouble of making an official complaint.
More examples
- He knew damn well how much trouble it would cause.
- After all the trouble she put me to, I didn't feel disposed to help her.
- Great trouble is taken to keep our database up-to-date.
- If you'd say yes to the request you'd save a lot of trouble.
- I hope the children haven't caused you too much trouble.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inconvenience
- a pain (in the neck) idiom
- a pain in the arse/backside idiom
- aggravation
- aggro
- awkward
- bore
- disturbance
- drag
- fag
- fuss
- hassle
- have fun and games idiom
- imposition
- inconvenience
- pisser
- put sb out
- put yourself out
- rigmarole
- snag
- tempest
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Idiom(s)
be asking for trouble
get sb into trouble
more trouble than it's worth
spell trouble
trouble and strife
troubleverb
uk/ˈtrʌb.əl/us/ˈtrʌb.əl/formaltrouble verb (WORRY)
[ T ] to cause someone to be worried or nervous:
I asked her what was troubling her, but she didn't want to talk.
Many of us are deeply troubled by the chairman's decision.
[ + (that) ] It troubles me (that) you didn't discuss your problems with me earlier.
More examples
- My conscience would really trouble me if I wore a fur coat.
- She was troubled by the conflicting interests of a career and a family.
- Several well-known women have been troubled by stalkers recently.
- My eyes have been troubling me recently.
- They were greatly troubled by rumours that he was to lose his job.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing anxiety and worry
- alarming
- bite
- catch up with sb
- come back to bite sb idiom
- come back/home to roost idiom
- dread
- flap
- frighten sb/sth away/off
- get/go beyond a joke idiom
- give sb the jitters idiom
- gnaw
- harass
- suspenseful
- sweat
- tense
- troubling
- unnerve
- unsettling
- weigh
- weigh on sb/sth
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trouble verb (CAUSE DIFFICULTIES)
[ T often passive ] to cause someone to have a problem or difficulties:
He has been troubled by a knee injury for most of the season.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing feelings of anger and displeasure
- aggravate
- aggrieve
- alienate
- anger
- annoy
- give sb the shits idiom
- go too far idiom
- goat
- grate
- hack
- hack sb off
- joke
- nose
- ruffle
- ruffle sb's feathers idiom
- set sb's teeth on edge idiom
- step/tread on sb's toes idiom
- stick in sb's craw idiom
- tee
- toe
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trouble verb (CAUSE EFFORT)
[ T ] to cause someone a small amount of effort:
May I trouble you for (= please give me) some more wine, please?
[ + obj + to infinitive ] Could I trouble you to open that window? I can't reach it.
Let's not trouble ourselves (= make the effort to think) about the details at the moment.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inconvenience
- a pain (in the neck) idiom
- a pain in the arse/backside idiom
- aggravation
- aggro
- awkward
- bore
- disturbance
- drag
- fag
- fuss
- hassle
- have fun and games idiom
- imposition
- inconvenience
- pisser
- put sb out
- put yourself out
- rigmarole
- snag
- tempest
See more results »