I. troub ‧ le 1 S1 W2 /ˈtrʌb ə l/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ troubled , ↑ troublesome , ↑ troubling ; verb : ↑ trouble ; noun : ↑ trouble ]
1 . PROBLEMS [uncountable] ( also troubles [plural] ) problems or difficulties
trouble with
We’re having a lot of trouble with the new computer system.
Recent stock market losses point to trouble ahead.
2 . BAD POINT [singular] used when saying what is bad about a person or situation or what causes problems:
The trouble with you is that you don’t listen.
The trouble is there are too many people and not enough places.
But no one ever remembers – that’s the trouble.
You never think, that’s your trouble.
3 . BAD SITUATION in/into/out of trouble
a) if someone or something is in trouble, they are in a situation with a lot of problems:
He admitted that their marriage was in trouble.
get/run into trouble
The company ran into trouble when it tried to expand too quickly.
in serious/deep trouble
The economy was in serious trouble.
the dangers of trying to borrow your way out of trouble
b) if someone is in trouble, they have done something which someone will punish them for or be angry about
in deep/big trouble
We’ll be in big trouble if Mr Elliott finds out.
in trouble with somebody
I think I’m in trouble with Dad.
I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get into trouble.
keep/stay out of trouble
I hope Tim stays out of trouble this year.
4 . FIGHTING [uncountable] fighting, violence, or violent behaviour:
If the kids start to cause trouble, ask them to move on.
A handful of people came looking for trouble.
If you start any trouble, you’ll regret it.
There was crowd trouble before the match.
5 . WORRIES [uncountable] ( also troubles [plural] ) problems in your life which you are worried about:
He poured out all his troubles to me (=told me all about his problems) .
6 . EFFORT [uncountable] an amount of effort and time that is needed to do something
take the trouble to do something (=make a special effort to do something)
The teacher took the trouble to learn all our names on the first day.
They’ve obviously gone to a lot of trouble to arrange everything.
save somebody the trouble (of doing something)
If you’d asked me first, I could have saved you the trouble.
I find that making my own clothes is more trouble than it’s worth (=takes too much time and effort) .
7 . no trouble used to say politely that you are happy to do something for someone:
‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’ ‘It’s no trouble.’
The kids were no trouble (=used to say you were happy to look after them because they were well-behaved) .
8 . HEALTH [uncountable] a problem that you have with your health:
He has trouble with his breathing.
heart/stomach/skin etc trouble
He suffers from back trouble.
9 . MACHINE/SYSTEM [uncountable] when something is wrong with a machine, vehicle, or system:
engine trouble
trouble with
He had to retire from the race because of trouble with the gearbox.
• • •
GRAMMAR
Trouble is usually an uncountable noun. Never say 'a trouble':
▪
Are you having trouble (NOT a trouble) with your car?
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have trouble
He is having trouble getting his message across to the voters.
▪ have no trouble
We had no trouble finding her house.
▪ cause trouble
I hope the delay hasn’t caused you any trouble.
▪ there is trouble
There was some trouble at her office, but she didn’t say what it was.
▪ mean/spell trouble (=mean there will be trouble)
They are now much more competitive, which can only spell trouble for their rivals.
▪ be asking for trouble (=be silly or dangerous)
It 's asking for trouble to wear high-heeled shoes on a long walk.
▪ avoid trouble
We avoid trouble by planning carefully.
■ adjectives
▪ big/great trouble
High interest rates spell big trouble for homeowners.
▪ terrible trouble
I’ve been having terrible trouble sleeping.
▪ endless trouble (=a lot of trouble)
They had endless trouble with the water supply.
▪ serious trouble
I was having serious trouble knowing where to begin.
▪ teething troubles British English (=small problems that you have when you first start doing a new job or using a new system )
There were a lot of teething troubles in the first year.
■ phrases
▪ what the trouble is
A couple of nurses rushed into the room to see what the trouble was.
▪ without any/much trouble (=easily)
The work was carried out without any trouble.
II. trouble 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ troubled , ↑ troublesome , ↑ troubling ; verb : ↑ trouble ; noun : ↑ trouble ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: troubler , from Vulgar Latin turbulare , from Latin turbidus ; ⇨ ↑ turbid ]
1 . WORRY if a problem troubles you, it makes you feel worried or upset:
There is one thing that’s been troubling me.
They have been deeply troubled by the allegations.
His conscience troubled him.
2 . INCONVENIENCE formal to say something or ask someone to do something which may use or waste their time or upset them SYN bother :
I promise not to trouble you again.
trouble somebody with something
I don’t want to trouble the doctor with it.
I won’t trouble you with the details.
3 . may I trouble you?/sorry to trouble you spoken formal used when politely asking someone to do something for you or give you something:
Sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me the way to the station, please?
May I trouble you for the salt?
4 . don’t trouble yourself spoken used to politely tell someone not to help you:
Please don’t trouble yourself. I can manage.
5 . not trouble to do something to not do something because it needs too much effort:
They never troubled to ask me what I would like.
Luke didn’t trouble to hide his disgust.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say not bother to do something rather than not trouble to do something :
▪
They didn’t bother to ask me what I thought.
6 . HEALTH PROBLEM if a medical problem troubles you, it causes you pain or problems:
He is still being troubled by an ankle injury.
7 . CAUSE PROBLEMS to cause someone problems or difficulties:
They look good enough to trouble most teams in the competition.