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English Idioms relating to
PROBLEMS - DIFFICULTIES
 

 Asking for trouble   Someone who is asking for trouble is behaving stupidly and is likely
  to have problems.
  "Driving fast on these roads is really asking for trouble!"
 Have your back to the wall   If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty.
  "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
 Bane of one's life   To say that something is the bane of your life means that it is
  the cause of your problems or your unhappiness.
  "The heating system is always breaking down.  It's the bane of
  my life!"
 Break the back of the beast   If someone breaks the back of the beast, they succeed in overcoming
  a major difficulty.
  "After hours of effort, the technicians finally broke the back of the beast
  and turned the electricity back on again."
 Bite off more than you can chew   If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do something
  that is too difficult for you, or more than you can manage.
  "As soon as I started to translate the report, I realized that
  I had bitten off more than I could chew."
 Can of worms   To describe a situation as a can of worms means that it is
  complicated, unpleasant and difficult to deal with.
  "The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real
  can of worms."
 Carry the can (for someone else)   If you carry the can for another person, you accept blame or take
  responsibility for something that goes wrong, even if it is not your fault
  or only partly.
  "The author didn't turn up for the interview and his agent had to
  carry the can."
 Catch-as-catch-can   This expression means that you try to get something in any way possible
  "It's difficult to get much sleep with the new baby - it's catch-as-catch-can
   these days!"
 Catch 22   A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you cannot
  do one thing without doing a second, and you cannot do the second
  before doing the first.
  "I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit
  without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!"
 Clear the way   If you clear the way, you allow something to happen by removing
  what was preventing it.
  "Opening universities to women cleared the way for them to have a
  career and participate actively in today's society."
 Come to head   If a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, it reaches a point
  where action has to be taken.
  "The problem came to a head yesterday when rioting broke out in
  the streets."
 Come out in the wash   This expression is used to tell someone not to worry about a mistake
  or problem because it won't have any serious effect and everything will
  work out all right.
  "Yes, he was furious when it happened - but don't worry - it'll all come
  out in the wash."
 Cross to bear   A person who has a cross to bear has a serious problem or heavy
  responsibility that they must accept because they cannot change it.
 
"Alzheimer's is a cross to bear for the whole family."
 Cross that bridge when we get to it  This is another way of saying "we will deal with that problem when
  it occurs and not worry about it before".
  "What will happen if we can't repay the loan?"
  "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
 Dig one's own grave   A person who digs their own grave does something which causes
  their own downfall.
  "If you drop out of college now, with such high unemployment, you'll be
  digging your own grave!"
 Do someone's dirty work.   To do someone's dirty work means to do the unpleasant or
  difficult work that the other person does not want to do.
 Elephant in the room   A problem that no one wants to discuss, but is so obvious that it
  cannot be ignored, is called an elephant in the room.
  "Let's face it - his work is unsatisfactory.
   That's the elephant in the room that we need to discuss."
 Fine tuning   Small changes to something to improve it or make it work better are
  called fine tuning.
 
"We are still fine tuning our new website and appreciate your patience."
 Get to the bottom of something   If you get to the bottom of a problem or mystery, you solve it by
  finding out the true cause of it.
  "We have a problem of goods disappearing during transport. 
  Hopefully the investigation will get to the bottom of it."
 Go haywire   If something goes haywire, it becomes disorganized or goes out of
  control.
 
"The photocopier has gone completely haywire. It's only printing half
  of each page!"
 Go/put through the mill   If you go (or are put) through the mill, you experience a very
  difficult period, or are exposed to rough treatment.

  "When I was an intern, I was put through the mill.  Nothing went
  unnoticed." 
 When the going gets tough ...   This expression means that when faced with a difficult or
  dangerous situation, strong people take action in order to solve
  the problem.
  "
Tom has a positive attitude.  He often says "when the going gets
  tough, the tough get going
".
 Gone with the wind   If something has gone with the wind, it has disappeared forever.
  "I lost everything during the crisis. My savings are gone with the wind!"
 Grasp at straws   If you are in a desperate situation and you grasp at straws,
 
you try any method, even if it has little chance of success, in
  an attempt to find a solution.
  "In his search for a cure, he  turned to a faith healer, knowing that
  he was clutching at straws."
 Come hell or high water   To say that you will do do something come hell or high water means
  that you will do it in spite of difficulties involved.
  "Come hell or high water, I've got to be on time for the interview."
 High and dry   If you are left high and dry, you find yourself in a difficult situation
  without help or resources
  "When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry
  with two kids to raise."
 If it ain't broke don't fix it!   This expression means that if a system or method works well,
  you shouldn't change it.
  "We're not changing our alarm system. As the saying goes:
  if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
 In dire straits   If a person or organization is in dire straits, they are in a very
  difficult situation.
  "The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire straits."
 In the lurch   If you leave someone in the lurch, you leave them in a difficult or
  embarrassing situation.
  "When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch."
 In a quandary   If you are in a quandary about something, you find it difficult to decide
  what to do.
  "The job they offer is less interesting but the salary is better. I'm in a
  quandary about what to do."
 In over your head   If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that is
  too difficult for you to handle.
  "I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that I was in
  over my head."
 Juggle frogs   A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with many different
  tasks at the same time and finding the situation difficult.
  "I've got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I'm juggling frogs."
 Last thing on one's mind   If you say that something is the last thing on your mind, you mean
  that it is not an important matter at all, especially when you have
  more serious problems to consider.
  "I'm so busy that food is the last thing on my mind."
 Last resort   If you say that you would do something as a last resort, it is the last
  thing you would do if you were desperate and all other courses of
  action had failed.
 
"I still haven't found a hotel for tonight; I can always sleep in the car
  as a last resort!"
 Left hanging in the air
 (or in mid-air)
  If a problem or issue is left hanging in the air, no decision has
  been taken so it remains without a solution.
  "No solution was proposed during the meeting so the question was
  left hanging in the air."
 Let sleeping dogs lie.   If you tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not
   to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems.
 Light at the end of the tunnel   If you see light at the end of the tunnel, you see signs of hope
  for the future after a long period of difficulty.
 
"Sales dropped heavily last year but we're beginning to see light
  at the end of the tunnel."
 Like it or lump it!   If you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean that they will
  have to accept something even if they don't like it, because the
  situation is not going to change.
  "We're spending a week this summer with your grandparents -
  like it or lump it!"
 A millstone around your neck   Something described as a millstone around your neck refers to
  a problem or responsibility that becomes a burden and a source of worry.
  " The money he borrowed became a millstone around his neck"
 Needs must
 (when the devil drives)
  This expression means that you are sometimes forced by circumstances
  to do something that you do not want to do.
  "I'd rather stay with you than attend the conference, but needs must...!"
 A needle in a haystack   To refer to something as a needle in a haystack means that it is very
  difficult or impossible to find.
  "Finding a pub in Dublin without knowing its name is like looking for
  a needle in a haystack!"
 There are no two ways about it   To say that there are no two ways about it means that there is
  only one suitable way of dealing with something.

 
"There's no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you
  must give it back."
 One's number is up   To say that one's number is up means that a person is either in
  serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time
  has come when they will die.
 
"The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his
  number is up!"
 Out of whack   If something is out of whack, it is not working properly or not in good
  order.
 
"The dishwasher is making a funny noise.  Something must be out of
   whack."
 Ostrich strategy/politics   This term refers to the phenomenon of ignoring or evading an obvious
   problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear.
 
"Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've got
   to find a solution!"
 Other side of the coin   When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a
  situation, you refer to the other side of the coin.
  "The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is
  that it is far from shops and schools."
 Paper over the cracks   To say that someone is papering over the cracks means that they
  are concealing a problem rather than dealing with it effectively.
  "The measures taken to reduce unemployment are just paper over
  the cracks."
 See (or put) things in their right
 perspective
  When people see or put things in their right perspective,
  they see the relative importance of each element of a situation,
  without exaggerating any aspect.
  "If Tom could see things in their right perspective, the situation would
  be less stressful for him."
 In a pickle   If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult situation and need help.
  "My car won't start and the trains are on strike today - I'm in a real pickle!"
 (no) quick fix   To say that there is no quick fix to a problem means that there is no
  simple solution.
  "There is no quick fix for unemployment;  major reforms are necessary."
 Old  dog for a hard road   This expression means that experience is invaluable when one is
  faced with a difficult task.
  "The case calls for an experienced lawyer, an old dog for a hard road."
 Pass the buck   If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing them
  of not taking responsibility for a problem and letting others deal with it
  instead.
  "Whenever a customer comes to complain, she always finds a way of
   looking busy.  Talk about passing the buck!"
 Pillar to post   If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goes from pillar to post,
  they move constantly from place to place.
  "When the factory closed down, Billy moved from pillar to post in
  search of a new job."
 Pour cold water on something   If you pour cold water on someone's plans, opinions or ideas, you
  discourage them by showing little enthusiasm or expressing your
  misgivings.
  "The committee threw cold water on the idea of accepting new
  members."
 Pull the plug (on something)   If you pull the plug on something, you put an end to it or provide
  no more support for it.
 
"There were so few enrolments that the school decided to pull
  the plug on the yoga class.
 Put on a brave face   When confronted with difficulties, if you put on a brave face, you try
  to look cheerful and pretend that the situation is not as bad as it is.
 
"Even at the worst of times she put on a brave face."
 Saved by the bell    If you are saved by the bell, something happens at the last minute
  to rescue you from a difficult situation.
  "Saved by the bell!  A friend arrived just when I realized I had no money
   for the parking metre!"
 Put a spanner in the works   To put a spanner in the works means to cause problems and
  prevent something from happening as planned.
  (In the US, the word 'wrench' or 'monkey wrench' is used instead of
  'spanner')
 Scrape the bottom of the barrel   If you scrape the bottom of the barrel, you use the worst or the
  least satisfactory ideas, things or people because you have no choice.
  "When they started to recruit, they had to scrape the bottom of the
  barrel because the best people had already found jobs elsewhere."
 Scratch the surface   When you only scratch the surface of a problem or subject, you
  deal with only a small part of it.
  "Some countries are only scratching the surface of their environment 
  problems."
 Smooth the path/way   Someone or something that smoothes the path for something,
  makes progress easier or enables it to happen.
 
"Speaking the language smoothed the path for negotiations."
 Spiral out of control   When difficulties or costs spiral out of control, they get worse or
  increase continuously, creating a situation that becomes difficult to
  manage.
 
"Some items were expensive but we were careful not to let the costs
  spiral out of control."
 Stew in your own juice   If you let somebody stew in their own juice, you leave them to worry
  about the consequences of their own actions.
 
"Jack spent last night in prison for starting a fight - let him just stew
   in his own juice!"
 On a sticky wicket   If you find yourself on a sticky wicket, you are in a situation that is
  difficult to deal with.
  "They've refused to sign the contract so we're on a sticky wicket now!"
 Stir up a hornet's nest   If you stir up a hornet's nest, you do something which causes a
  commotion and provokes criticism and anger.

  "His letter to the Board stirred up a real hornet's nest."
 Stop the rot   When you prevent a situation from deteriorating, especially in
  politics or business, you stop the rot.
  "There was so much conflict in the office that a new manager
  was appointed to stop the rot."
 Stumbling block   This term refers to a problem or obstacle which prevents you from
  achieving something.
  "My father adapted quite well but the language was always a stumbling
  block for my mother."
 Take the bull by the horns   To take the bull by the horns means that a person decides to
  act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem.
 Take the rough with the smooth   If you take the rough with the smooth, you accept what is unpleasant
  or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy.
 
"Life isn't always easy; you have to learn to take the rough with the smooth." 
 A thorny issue   If you are faced with a thorny issue, you have to deal with a difficult
  or unpleasant problem.
  "Copyright and content duplication are thorny issues these days."
 Throw money at something   If you throw money at something, you try to solve a problem by
  spending money on it, without using any other methods.
 
"The refugee problem cannot be solved just by throwing money at it."
 Tide (someone) over   If you tide someone over, you support or sustain them through
  a difficult period for a certain length of time.
  "With this weather it's impossible to get to the shops, but we have
  enough food to tide us over until next week."
 Tight spot   Someone who is in a tight spot is in a very difficult situation.
 "The recent strike has put the airline company in a tight spot."
 Tip of the iceberg   The tip of the iceberg is the part that is known of a problem or
  situation which is thought to be much more serious.
  "Journalists say that the report on corruption only examines the tip
  of the iceberg."
 Trilemma   This term is used for a situation which is even more difficult than
  a dilemma, because a choice must be made between three options
  that seem equally undesirable
 Unmitigated disaster   To refer to something as an unmitigated disaster means that it is
  a total catastrophe or a complete failure.
 
"The organization of the tournament was an unmitigated disaster."
 Uphill battle   A person faced with an uphill battle has to struggle against very
  unfavourable circumstances.
 
"After the terrible accident, his recovery was an uphill battle all the way."
 Upset the applecart   To upset (or to overturn) the applecart means to spoil a satisfactory
  plan or situation
  "I hope Julie doesn't attend the meeting - she could upset the applecart!"
 Vicious circle   When the solution to a problem creates a similar problem to the original,
  or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation
  is called a vicious circle.
  
"I borrowed money to reimburse Paul.  Now I've got to reimburse the bank,
  with interest. It's a vicious circle."
 Without a hitch   If something happens without a hitch, it takes place exactly as
  planned, without any difficulties.
  "The ceremony went off without a hitch, to our great relief!"
 Vote with one's feet   If you vote with your feet, you show your dislike or disapproval of
  something by leaving.
 
"If the conference is boring, people will probably vote with their feet."

 


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