problem

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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noun, adjective
+ noun
1 a thing that is difficult to deal with or to understand: big / major / serious problems + health / unemployment / family problems + financial / practical / technical problems + to address / tackle / solve a problem + (especially AmE) to fix a problem + the problem of drug abuse + If he chooses Mary it's bound to cause problems. + Let me know if you have any problems. + Most students face the problem of funding themselves while they are studying. + The problem first arose in 1993. + Unemployment is a very real problem for graduates now. + It's a nice table! The only problem is (that) it's a bit too big for our room. + Stop worrying about their marriage-it isn't your problem. + There's no history of heart problems (= disease connected with the heart) in our family. + the magazine's problem page (= containing letters about readers' problems and advice about how to solve them)
2 a question that can be answered by using logical thought or mathematics: mathematical / philosophical problems + to find the answer to the problem + The teacher set us 50 problems to do.
Idioms: Do you have a problem with that? (spoken) used to show that you are impatient with sb who disagrees with you
no problem (spoken, informal)
1 (also not a problem) used to show that you are happy to help sb or that sth will be easy to do: 'Can I pay by credit card?' 'Yes, no problem.'
2 used after sb has thanked you or said they are sorry for sth: 'Thanks for the ride.' 'No problem.'
it's / that's not my problem (spoken, informal) used to show that you do not care about sb else's difficulties: If they can't afford to go, that's not my problem.
that's her / his / their / your problem (spoken, informal) used to show that you think a person should deal with their own difficulties: 'My parents will be furious!' 'That's your problem.'
What's your problem? (spoken, informal) used to show that you think sb is being unreasonable: What's your problem?-I only asked if you could help me for ten minutes.
+ adjective [only before noun] causing problems for other people: She was a problem child, always in trouble with the police.

Thesaurus dictionary

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n.

1 difficulty, trouble, question, dilemma, quandary, predicament, complication, hornet's nest, imbroglio, mess, muddle, stew, Colloq can of worms, fine kettle of fish, (pretty) pickle, Brit facer:

The Chancellor must constantly deal with the problems of the country's economy

2 puzzle, conundrum, poser, riddle, question, enigma, puzzler, Colloq mind-boggler, hard or tough nut to crack:

The problem is how to get the yolk out without breaking the shell.

adj.

3 unruly, unmanageable, intractable, uncontrollable, difficult, ungovernable, refractory, incorrigible, obstreperous, delinquent, maladjusted, disturbed, emotionally upset:

He teaches at a school where most of the students are problem children.

Collocation dictionary

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¹ sth that causes difficulties

ADJ.

acute, big, enormous, grave, great, serious

Our greatest problem is the lack of funds.

| little, minor, petty | complex, complicated, difficult, knotty, thorny | growing | basic, central, main, major | common | pressing, urgent | immediate | insoluble, insuperable, insurmountable, intractable

Depression is a natural feeling if your problems seem intractable.

| long-standing, long-term, perennial | practical | technical | attitude, behavioural, emotional, psychological

His teachers say he has an attitude problem.

| health, physical, sexual | back, heart, knee | drink, drug | social | housing | economic, financial

They sold their car to ease their financial problems.

| environmental | legal

VERB + PROBLEM

be, pose, present (sb with)

Inadequate resources pose a problem for all members of staff.

| have | bring, cause, create

Success brings its own problems. Staff shortages cause problems for the organization.

| be beset with, be confronted by/with, be dogged by, be faced with, be fraught with, confront, encounter, face, run into

He has been faced with all manner of problems in his new job. The scheme has been fraught with problems from the start.

| raise

She raised the problem of falling sales at the last meeting.

| identify | consider, debate, discuss, look at/into | address, approach, attack, combat, come/get to grips with, grapple with, handle, tackle

The next meeting will address the problem of truancy.

| avoid, circumvent, find a way around/round, get around/round | clear up, cure, deal with, overcome, resolve, solve

He had to undergo surgery to cure the problem with his knee.

| alleviate, ease, reduce | exacerbate | analyse, explore

PROBLEM + VERB

arise, come up, occur

problems arising from poor ventilation

| exist | persist, remain

If the problem persists you should see a doctor. The basic problem remains the lack of housing available.

| confront sb, face sb | lie in sth

The problem lies in the lack of communication between managers and staff.

PROBLEM + NOUN

area | child

PREP.

~ about

I didn't imagine there would be a problem about getting tickets.

| ~ for

The rail strike is a problem for all commuters.

| ~ of

the problem of poverty

| ~ with

Have you got a problem with her?

PHRASES

an approach to a problem, the crux/heart/root of the problem

We need to get to the root of the problem before we can solve it.

| a remedy/solution to a problem, the scale of a problem

² question to be solved

ADJ.

complicated, difficult | easy, simple | mathematical

solving simple mathematical problems

VERB + PROBLEM

do, find the answer to, solve

I have five problems to do for homework.

PROBLEM + NOUN

solving

This kind of activity develops the children's problem-solving skills.

Concise English dictionary

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problems'prɑbləm /'prɒ-
noun
+a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
+a source of difficulty
+a question raised for consideration or solution