Bedeutung
To be in a difficult, problematic, or dangerous situation.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In American schools, 'in trouble' is often followed by a trip to the principal's office. British English often uses 'in a spot of bother' as a slightly more polite or understated version of 'in trouble'. In modern tech companies, 'in trouble' is often used to describe a project that is behind schedule.
Use intensifiers
Add 'big' or 'serious' to make it sound more urgent.
Don't use 'the'
It is never 'in the trouble'. Always just 'in trouble'.
Bedeutung
To be in a difficult, problematic, or dangerous situation.
Use intensifiers
Add 'big' or 'serious' to make it sound more urgent.
Don't use 'the'
It is never 'in the trouble'. Always just 'in trouble'.
Context matters
It sounds very different when said to a child versus a colleague.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence.
If you don't finish your work, you will be ____ trouble.
The idiom is 'in trouble'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct usage.
No article is used, and 'am' is the correct verb.
Complete the dialogue.
A: I broke the window! B: Oh no, you are ____!
This is the standard idiom for facing consequences.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Which situation fits 'in trouble'?
Getting a bad grade often leads to being in trouble.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIf you don't finish your work, you will be ____ trouble.
The idiom is 'in trouble'.
Choose the correct usage.
No article is used, and 'am' is the correct verb.
A: I broke the window! B: Oh no, you are ____!
This is the standard idiom for facing consequences.
Which situation fits 'in trouble'?
Getting a bad grade often leads to being in trouble.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, never use 'a' or 'the' with this idiom.
No, it is standard English used by everyone.
Use 'I have trouble doing X'.
Only if you are talking about a past challenge you overcame.
Being 'in the clear'.
Not always; it can also mean being in a difficult situation.
Yes, but it means something different, like 'life's troubles'.
It is neutral and fits most situations.
Verwandte Redewendungen
In hot water
synonymIn trouble
In a jam
synonymIn a difficult situation
Make trouble
contrastTo cause problems
