Words / B2

TRUBL/ˈtrʌbl/

Trouble is problems, difficulty, or a cause of worry (often uncountable): in trouble; trouble with. Issue is more formal; problem is everyday. The plant is in trouble if the cooling fails. Mix-up: travel (already in the dictionary); troubled as adjective. Do not write “a trouble” for every small snag; prefer a problem / an issue when countable.

Meaning

Problems, difficulty, or a cause of worry (often uncountable).

Examples

• “The plant is in trouble if the cooling fails, the case study said.”
• “Trouble with the sampling frame, not the printer, sank the survey, which is the difficulty sense.”

Good to know

in trouble; trouble with; cause / spell trouble. Countable twin: a problem / an issue. Trap: travel. News, H&S, and orals. Difficulty or danger, not a holiday.

Near in meaning

difficulty

New