trouble
gb/tɹˈʌbəl/ us/tɹˈʌbəl/
A2
English
~ 1100
baj, gond, zavar, aggaszt, bánt, hiba, meghibásodás, üzemzavar
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
have [trouble] [doing something]
He's been having trouble paying his rent lately.
Mostanában gondot okoz neki a lakbér kifizetése.
The company is in serious financial trouble.
A vállalat komoly pénzügyi bajban van.
She knew she was in trouble when she saw the police car behind her.
If you keep talking in class, you'll get into trouble.
We had some trouble finding the right address.
Learner examples
I have trouble sleeping at night.
Éjszaka nehezen alszom.
He is in trouble with the teacher.
Bajba került a tanáránál.
We had trouble finding the bus stop.
She is having trouble with her homework.
They got into trouble for being late.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'trouble' with 'problem' in countability. 'Trouble' is usually uncountable ('some trouble', not 'a trouble').
Meaning
Difficulty or problems
Collocations
get into trouble
|have trouble
|cause trouble
|serious trouble
|legal trouble
Synonyms
problem (More general term for something that needs to be solved; less emotional tone.)
Antonyms
solution (Refers to the answer or way to fix a difficulty, opposite of the problem itself.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A problem or something that makes life hard or stressful.
A situation that causes difficulty, worry, or distress.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to trouble [someone] with [something]
I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you help me carry this?
Elnézést, hogy zavarom, de tudna segíteni ezt elvinni?
It troubles me that we haven't heard from him in days.
Aggaszt, hogy napok óta nem hallottunk felőle.
Don't trouble yourself about the mess—I'll clean it up.
She was troubled by the news of the accident.
Learner examples
Sorry to trouble you, can you help me?
Elnézést, hogy zavarom, tudna segíteni?
It troubles me when you are sad.
Bánt, amikor szomorú vagy.
Don't trouble yourself with this work.
He was troubled by the bad weather.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'trouble' instead of 'bother' in casual requests; 'trouble' can sound more formal or polite in modern English.
Meaning
Cause difficulty or distress
Collocations
sorry to trouble you
|trouble oneself
|troubled by
Synonyms
bother (More informal; often used for small inconveniences.)
Antonyms
comfort (To make someone feel better and less worried, opposite of causing distress.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone feel worried, upset, or bothered.
To cause someone to feel worried, upset, or inconvenienced.
NOUN
B1
3
The plane had engine trouble and had to land early.
A repülőgépen hajtóműhiba lépett fel, ezért idő előtt le kellett szállnia.
We're having some technical trouble with the website.
Technikai hiba lépett fel a weboldalon.
The printer is giving me trouble again.
Learner examples
My car has engine trouble.
Az autómnak motorhibája van.
The TV has some trouble and won't turn on.
Valami baj van a tévével, nem kapcsol be.
We had computer trouble at work.
Meaning
Fault in a machine/system
Collocations
engine trouble
|computer trouble
|technical trouble
Synonyms
fault (Technical term for a defect or imperfection.)
Antonyms
functioning (State of operating properly without faults.)
Themes
technology
|daily life
|science
|daily_life
Definition
A problem that stops a machine or system from working correctly.
A fault or malfunction in a machine, device, or system.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trouble
IPA
GB/tɹˈʌbəl/
US/tɹˈʌbəl/
Syllables & stress
trouble (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (trouble)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trouble
- Plural: trouble, troubles
Verb
- Base: trouble
- 3rd Person Singular: troubles
- Present Participle: troubling
- Past: troubled
Word family
Forms
troubles
noun
troubling
verb
troubled
verb
Core family
troublesome
adjective B2
Related words
troublemaker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
untroubled
adjective
trouble-free
adjective
Advanced or less common
troubleshoot
verb
Expressions
get into trouble
1/ɡˈɛt ˈɪntu tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
End up in a problem situation
To do something that causes problems for you, often breaking rules or laws.
Examples
- If you cheat on the test, you'll get into trouble with the teacher.
- He got into trouble for driving without a license.
look for trouble
1/lˈʊk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
informal
Seek conflict or problems
To act in a way that will probably cause problems or conflict.
Examples
- He was drunk and looking for trouble at the bar.
- Don't look for trouble by arguing with them.
ask for trouble
1/ˈæsk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
informal
Do something likely to cause problems
To do something that will probably cause problems for you.
Examples
- Not wearing a helmet is just asking for trouble.
- If you keep lying to her, you're asking for trouble.
ask for trouble
2/ˈæsk fɚ tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Do something likely to cause trouble
To do something that will probably cause problems or danger for yourself.
Examples
- Walking alone at night in that area is just asking for trouble.
- If you don't back up your files, you're asking for trouble.
in trouble
1/ˈɪn tɹˈʌbəl/
fixed phrase
in a difficult situation
Having problems or being likely to be punished.
Examples
- He knew he was in trouble when he saw his boss waiting.
- The hikers were in trouble when the storm hit.
- The company is in trouble financially.
- She's in trouble with her boss for missing the meeting.
spell trouble
1/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
mean serious problems
To mean or cause serious problems.
Examples
- Falling sales could spell trouble for the company.
- The dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic plans.
spell trouble
2/spˈɛl tɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Indicate future problems
To show that something bad is likely to happen.
Examples
- Dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic.
- The new policy could spell trouble for small businesses.