in trouble — experiencing difficulties, problems, or facing punishment
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: experiencing difficulties, problems, or facing punishment
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪn ˈtrʌbl/
Example Sentences
- My phone battery died during the exam, and now I'm in trouble with the teacher.
- The cat is in trouble for knocking over the vase.
- If you don't submit your homework, you'll be in trouble.
in trouble
NOUN[/ɪn ˈtrʌbl/]
experiencing difficulties, problems, or facing punishment

The driver was in trouble when his car broke down and smoke poured from the engine.

The explorer was in trouble after his leg became caught in the giant steel trap.

The bubble grew to double its size, and the boy was suddenly in trouble as foam flooded the bathroom.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'trouble' derives from Old French 'trobler', which originally meant 'to make water turbid or murky'. The meaning evolved metaphorically from the literal act of clouding clear water to disturbing or disrupting a peaceful situation, eventually coming to denote difficulty or distress.
Breakdown
trobler (Old French: to make turbid, from Vulgar Latin turbulare, related to turba meaning crowd or disturbance) → trouble (to disturb, to cause difficulty)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My phone battery died during the exam, and now I'm in trouble with the teacher.”
“The cat is in trouble for knocking over the vase.”
“If you don't submit your homework, you'll be in trouble.”
“The company is in financial trouble due to poor sales.”
📚Related Words
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