trouble

trou|ble1 [ `trʌbl ] noun ***

▸ 1 problems/worries

▸ 2 health problems

▸ 3 special difficult effort

▸ 4 unpleasant situation

▸ 5 when blame is likely

▸ 6 violence

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count or uncount problems, worries, or difficulties:

The company has been experiencing serious financial troubles recently.

The trouble started when I was transferred to a new department.

You could tell your troubles to this man, she thought.

a life filled with pain and trouble

have trouble with something: I'm having some trouble with this new software.

have trouble doing something: He was having trouble hearing her.

cause/make trouble for someone/something: She can make a lot of trouble for you.

cause someone/something trouble: It would just cause me more trouble in the long run.

a ) singular an aspect or feature of someone or something that causes problems, worries, or difficulties:

the trouble (with someone/something) is (that): The trouble with my parents is they think I'm still a child.

the only trouble (with someone/something) is (that): The only trouble with that idea was that Isabel would never agree to it.

someone's trouble is (that): Your trouble is you are greedy.

2. ) uncount health problems affecting a part of your body:

heart/stomach/back trouble: My family has a history of heart trouble.

give/cause someone trouble: My knee's been giving me a lot of trouble lately.

have trouble with something: She's been having a little trouble with her eyes.

a ) problems affecting a machine or system that make it not work as it should:

engine/mechanical trouble: The plane developed engine trouble five minutes after takeoff.

3. ) uncount additional or special effort that causes you problems or difficulties:

it's no trouble (for someone to do something): It's no trouble at all for me to get her phone number.

I don't mind waiting it's no trouble.

put someone to a lot of trouble: Sorry we put you to such a lot of trouble.

take the trouble (to do something): Thank you for taking the trouble to reply.

go to/take a lot of trouble (to do something): He'd gone to a lot of trouble to make the evening go perfectly.

go to the trouble of doing something: Why go to the trouble of washing them by hand?

save someone the trouble of doing something: I'll do your shopping to save you the trouble of going out.

save yourself trouble: You'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you choose carefully.

be more trouble than someone/something is worth: Growing roses is more trouble than it is worth.

take trouble over/with something: She takes a considerable amount of trouble over her appearance.

4. ) uncount an unpleasant, difficult, or dangerous situation:

be in trouble: I knew we were in trouble when the elevator stopped.

The company is in trouble primarily because of poor management.

run into trouble: The airplane ran into serious trouble soon after takeoff.

get into trouble: The horse got into trouble at the first hurdle.

5. ) uncount a situation for which you are likely to be blamed, criticized, or punished:

be in trouble (with someone): I hear she's in trouble with the police again.

be in serious/big/deep trouble: If he hears about this, you'll be in big trouble.

get into trouble (for doing something): I got into trouble for being late.

get someone into trouble: If you break it, you'll get us all into trouble.

stay/keep out of trouble: He's managed to stay out of trouble since coming out of jail.

6. ) count or uncount fighting, violence, or bad behavior:

There's been a lot of trouble in the neighborhood recently.

trouble starts: The trouble started when he accused someone of stealing his bicycle.

make/cause trouble: Peter used to make a lot of trouble at school.

trouble flares/erupts: Trouble flared in the area after a youth was arrested.

crowd trouble: There was crowd trouble at the last game.

asking for trouble

if doing something is asking for trouble, it is likely to cause you problems or difficulties:

Delaying this type of surgery is just asking for trouble.

get someone into trouble OLD-FASHIONED

to make a woman who is not married pregnant

looking for trouble

doing something that is likely to cause a disagreement, fight, or problem

no trouble

easy and pleasant to deal with and not causing you any problems:

I don't mind taking care of Sam he's no trouble at all.

trouble is brewing (for) or there's trouble brewing

used for saying that a difficult, dangerous, or violent situation is developing

trouble

trou|ble 2 [ `trʌbl ] verb transitive *

1. ) to make someone worried:

What's wrong? Is something troubling you?

it troubles someone that: It troubles me that I haven't heard from her recently.

2. ) SPOKEN FORMAL to cause someone a slight problem or difficulty by asking them to do something for you:

I'm sorry you've been troubled it won't happen again.

trouble yourself: I'll call her if you like. No, don't trouble yourself.

a ) SPOKEN FORMAL used for making a polite request:

I'm sorry to trouble you, but can I borrow a pen?

trouble someone for something: Could I trouble you for a ride home?

trouble someone to do something: Could I trouble you to pass the butter?

3. ) usually progressive if a part of your body is troubling you, it is not working as it should and is causing you pain:

His right shoulder is troubling him.

trouble to do something usually in negatives or questions FORMAL

to make an effort to do something that you should do:

He left without even troubling to say good night.