trouble

trouble

trouble [trouble troubles troubled troubling] noun, verb   [ˈtrʌbl]    [ˈtrʌbl] 

noun  

PROBLEM/WORRY
1. uncountable, countable 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.
• ~ (with sb/sth) The trouble with you is you don't really want to work.
• We've never had much trouble with vandals around here.
• 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.
• 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. uncountable illness or pain
• back trouble

• I've been having trouble with my knee.  

WITH MACHINE

3. uncountable something that is wrong with a machine, vehicle, etc
• mechanical trouble

• My car's been having engine trouble.  

DIFFICULT/VIOLENT SITUATION

4. uncountable 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. uncountable 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. uncountable ~ (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 NORTHERN IRELAND

7. the Troubles plural 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
more at be asking for trouble at  ask  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French truble (noun), trubler (verb), based on Latin turbidus, from turba ‘a crowd, a disturbance’.  
Synonyms:
illness
sickness • ill health • trouble
These are all words for the state of being physically or mentally ill.
illness • the state of being physically or mentally ill.
sickness • illness; bad health: ▪ I recommend you get insurance against sickness and unemployment.
illness or sickness?
Sickness is used especially in contexts concerning work and insurance. It is commonly found with words such as pay, leave, absence and insurance. Illness has a wider range of uses and is found in more general contexts.
ill health • (rather formal) the state of being physically ill or having lots of health problems: ▪ She resigned because of ill health.
Ill health often lasts a long period of time.
trouble • illness or pain: ▪ heart trouble.
When trouble is used with this meaning, it is necessary to say which part of the body is affected.
chronic illness/sickness/ill health
to suffer from illness/sickness/ill health/heart, etc. trouble 
Example Bank:
• Do you think it's worth the trouble of booking seats in advance?
• Extra journalists have been sent to the main trouble spots.
• Fans wandered the town after the match looking for trouble.
• Growing your own vegetables is more trouble than it's worth.
• He got into trouble for not doing his homework.
• He had a reputation for making trouble in the classroom.
• He has had back trouble since changing jobs.
• He is in trouble with the law again.
• He put his past troubles behind him and built up a successful new career.
• He was asking for trouble when he insulted their country.
• He was obviously upset, and muttered something about girlfriend trouble.
• Her troubles began last year when she lost her job.
• I can see trouble ahead.
• I don't want to make trouble for her.
• I don't want to put you to any trouble.
• I've had endless trouble with my car.
• I've had trouble sleeping recently.
• In times of trouble she always turns to her mother.
• Just don't start any trouble.
• Look, we don't want any trouble, so we'll leave.
• Most of the game we were in foul trouble.
• She got into serious financial trouble after running up large debts.
• She has a history of back trouble.
• She knew that a hygiene inspection could spell trouble for her restaurant.
• She poured out all her troubles to her mother.
• Thank you very much for all your trouble.
• The company is in desperate trouble financially.
• The company soon ran into financial trouble.
• The printer's causing trouble again.
• There was trouble brewing among the workforce.
• They are hoping to leave their recent troubles behind.
• They went to enormous trouble to make her stay a pleasant one.
• Trouble blew up when the gang was refused entry to a nightclub.
• Trouble often comes when you're least expecting it.
• We left before the trouble started.
• We took the trouble to plan our route in advance.
• We're in deep trouble now!
• When she saw the teacher coming she knew she was in big trouble.
• Why don't we bring a pizza to save you the trouble of cooking?
• trouble between the races
• A yachtsman got into trouble off the coast and had to be rescued.
• As the bars closed the town was full of youths looking for trouble.
• He had to throw out a few drunks who were causing trouble in the bar.
• He suffers from heart trouble.
• He went to a lot of trouble to find the book for me.
• Her trouble is she's incapable of making a decision.
• I can call back later— it's no trouble at all.
• I hope the children weren't too much trouble.
• I'll get it if you like— that will save you the trouble of going out.
• I've been having trouble with my knee.
• I've never been one to run away from trouble.
• If I don't get this finished in time, I'll be in trouble.
• My brother was always getting me into trouble with my parents.
• Nothing is ever too much trouble for her.
• She didn't even take the trouble to find out how to spell my name.
• She was on the phone for an hour telling me all her troubles.
• The children didn't give me any trouble at all.
• The company ran into trouble early on, when a major order was cancelled.
• The only trouble is we won't be here then.
• The police were expecting trouble after the game.
• The trouble is there aren't any trains at that time.
• The trouble with you is you don't really want to work.
• They take a lot of trouble to find the right person for the job.
• Troops were stationed nearby in case of crowd trouble.
• We've been having trouble getting staff.
• We've never had much trouble with vandals around here.

Idioms: get somebody into trouble ▪ give trouble ▪ look for trouble ▪ take the trouble to do something ▪ take trouble over something ▪ take trouble to do something ▪ trouble shared is a trouble halved