{"id":13282,"date":"2023-01-13T19:49:01","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T02:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Problems and Difficulties Idioms and Phrases! Learn common Problems and Difficulties Idioms, Phrases, and sayings in English with meaning and example sentences.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><mark style=\"back"},"modified":"2023-01-13T19:49:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T02:49:05","slug":"idioms-for-problems-and-difficulties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/idioms-for-problems-and-difficulties\/","title":{"rendered":"30+ Useful Phrases &#038; Idioms for Problems and Difficulties"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"words-head\" id=\"words-3418777241\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5017566440575750\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5017566440575750\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3340569236\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Problems and Difficulties Idioms and Phrases! Learn common Problems and Difficulties Idioms, Phrases, and sayings in English with meaning and example sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Idioms for Problems and Difficulties<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List of 30+ Useful Making Decisions Idioms and Phrases in English<br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">(An) Uphill Climb<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A difficult process<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The course was designed to give them a running start on their steep uphill climb through the curriculum.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">(The) Last Straw<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A problem or insult that finally demands a response<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Transport pressure groups believe this will be the last straw for some services.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Vicious Cycle<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> when one problem causes another problem, which then causes the first problem again<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Security forces and militants are locked in a vicious cycle of killing.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Above Water<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Not in extreme difficulty. Especially said of finances<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> We are keeping our head above water, but our cash flow position is not too good.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">At Your Wits\u2019 End<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> when you are at the limit of your mental resources, desperate and without additional options<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been trying to download the file all day and I keep getting an error message \u2013 I\u2019m at my wits\u2019 end!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Catch-22<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> a situation in which it\u2019s impossible to succeed because of conflicting rules or conditions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It&#8217;s a Catch-22 situation &#8211; without experience you can&#8217;t get a job and without a job you can&#8217;t get experience.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Come Out in the Wash<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>be resolved eventually with no lasting harm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The real reasons for her resignation will come out in the wash.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cut Corners<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Economize by reducing quality; take shortcuts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Take your time, don&#8217;t cut corners and follow instructions to the letter.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cut the Gordian Knot<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> solve or remove a problem in a direct or forceful way, rejecting gentler or more indirect methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Let&#8217;s cut the Gordian knot in doing with such a complicated matter.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Dodged A Bullet<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> barely escaped from a dangerous\/disastrous situation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Bush dodged a bullet when Chavez was forced out.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Elephant in the room<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> An obvious problem that people do not want to talk about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> &#8220;Elephant in the room&#8221; is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Get To Grips With<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>To begin to understand and deal with something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They were so keen to get to grips with the enemy that they disregarded much of the training in stealth and guile.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hard nut to crack<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A problem that is hard to solve or a person who is difficult to understand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> This problem is going to be a hard nut to crack.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Head (Go) South<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Decline, get worse<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The markets all headed south after the bad economic news.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In a Jam<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> In need of help, in a difficult spot<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The knives and forks were kept in a jam jar.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In Hot Water<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> In need of help; in trouble<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Wool usually damages if washed in hot water.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/american-idioms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150+ Famous American Idioms<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In a pickle<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Someone that has a big problem<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Companies find themselves in a pickle when their markets change.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">It serves you right<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Your problem is the result of your own bad behaviour, and you deserve it<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Left you, did she? It serves you right for being so selfish.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Red Tape<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Difficult bureaucratic or governmental requirements<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The new rules should help cut the red tape for farmers.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Start with a Clean Slate<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To start (something) again with a fresh beginning; to work on a problem without thinking about what has been done before<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Start with a clean slate every time you move onto a new project.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Stumbling Block<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> An obstacle, physical or abstract<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The main stumbling block to starting new research is that we lack qualified people.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Think Outside the Box<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Try to solve a problem in an original way; think creatively<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Our product line is getting stale. We need to think outside the box and come up with creative new products.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The Crux Of The Matter<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> the most essential or main part of the problem<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Grasping At Straws<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> when you\u2019re desperate and you\u2019re pursuing even the slightest hope or possibility (even if it probably won\u2019t work)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> For now, researchers admit that they are still grasping at straws.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In Dire Straits<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>in a very serious, very bad situation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> After the war the county&#8217;s economy was in dire straits.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">You\u2019ve Got Your Work Cut Out For You<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> when you have a large and difficult task to do in the future<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You want to finish a four-year college degree in just two years? Well, you\u2019ve got your work cut out for you.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Last Resort<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> an option you use as a \u201clast chance\u201d when there are no other options available<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Strike action should be regarded as a last resort, when all attempts to negotiate have failed.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Rough time<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To have many problems<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> All women have a rough time in our society.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Shoot yourself in the foot<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To do or say something that causes problems for you<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Why does Kerry always shoot herself in the foot by saying the wrong thing?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Take the bull by the horns<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Deal with a problem in a direct and fearless way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The Tip Of The Iceberg<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> only a small part of the problem; the biggest part of the problem is hidden<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> These small local protests are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Idioms for Problems and Difficulties - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-13284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Idioms-for-Problems-and-Difficulties-wordscoach.com_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Problems and Difficulties Idioms and Phrases! Learn common Problems and Difficulties Idioms, Phrases, and sayings in English with meaning and example sentences.<\/p>\n<p>List of 30+ Useful Making Decisions Idioms and Phrases in English<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[7149,82,9794,958],"class_list":["post-13282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-idioms","tag-english-phrases-and-idioms","tag-idioms","tag-idioms-for-problems-and-difficulties","tag-idioms-in-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}