/ ˈtrʌbl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
PROBLEM / WORRY
1.
[ U , C ] trouble (with sb/sth) a problem, worry, difficulty, etc. or a situation causing this :
We have trouble getting staff.
He could make trouble for me if he wanted to.
The trouble with you is you don't really want to work.
Her trouble is she's incapable of making a decision.
The trouble is (= what is difficult is) there aren't any trains at that time.
The only trouble is we won't be here then.
No, I don't know his number—I have quite enough trouble remembering my own.
We've never had much trouble with vandals around here.
financial troubles
She was on the phone for an hour telling me her troubles.
Our troubles aren't over yet.
—see also teething troubles
ILLNESS / PAIN
2.
[ U ] illness or pain :
back trouble
I've been having trouble with my knee.
➡ note at illness
WITH MACHINE
3.
[ U ] something that is wrong with a machine, vehicle, etc. :
mechanical trouble
DIFFICULT / VIOLENT SITUATION
4.
[ U ] a situation that is difficult or dangerous; a situation in which you can be criticized or punished :
The company ran into trouble early on, when a major order was cancelled.
A yachtsman got into trouble off the coast and had to be rescued.
If I don't get this finished in time, I'll be in trouble .
He's in trouble with the police.
My brother was always getting me into trouble with my parents.
5.
[ U ] an angry or violent situation :
The police were expecting trouble after the match.
If you're not in by midnight, there'll be trouble (= I'll be very angry) .
He had to throw out a few drunks who were causing trouble in the bar.
EXTRA EFFORT
6.
[ U ] trouble (to sb) extra effort or work
SYN bother :
I don't want to put you to a lot of trouble .
I'll get it if you like, that will save you the trouble of going out.
Making your own yogurt is more trouble than it's worth .
She went to a lot of trouble to find the book for me.
He thanked me for my trouble and left.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for her (= she's always ready to help) .
I can call back later—it's no trouble (= I don't mind) .
I hope the children weren't too much trouble.
IN NORTHEN IRELAND
7.
the Troubles [ pl. ] the time of political and social problems in Northern Ireland, especially after 1968, when there was violence between Catholics and Protestants about whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK
•
IDIOMS
- get sb into trouble
- give (sb) (some, no, any, etc.) trouble
- look for trouble
- take trouble over / with sth | take trouble doing / to do sth
- take the trouble to do sth
- a trouble shared is a trouble halved
—more at ask
■ verb
MAKE SB WORRIED
1.
[ vn ] to make sb worried or upset :
What is it that's troubling you?
DISTURB
2.
(often used in polite requests) to disturb sb because you want to ask them sth
SYN bother :
[ vn ]
Sorry to trouble you, but could you tell me the time?
I don't want to trouble the doctor with such a small problem.
( formal ) [ vn to inf ]
Could I trouble you to open the window, please?
MAKE EFFORT
3.
[ v to inf ] ( BrE , formal ) (usually used in negative sentences) to make an effort to do sth
SYN bother :
He rushed into the room without troubling to knock.
CAUSE PAIN
4.
[ vn ] ( of a medical problem ) to cause pain :
My back's been troubling me again.
•
IDIOMS
see pour
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French truble (noun), trubler (verb), based on Latin turbidus , from turba a crowd, a disturbance.